CHAMBA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the State forest department has set a target of planting saplings in over 15,000 hectares of land under Van Mahotsav, which is being celebrated as Hariyali Utsav this year.
Due to the concerted efforts of the State Government, the forest cover in the State has increased by about 342 sq. kms in last four years, he added.
Chief Minister presided over the 73rd State level Van Mahotsav held at Chowari by planting a sapling of ‘Punica granatum’ (Daadu) near Chowari helipad.
The Chief Minister said on the occasion of 75 years of Independence and 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh, this year the Van Mahotsav was being celebrated as ‘Hariyali Mahotsav’.
The Chief Minister also distributed State Level Forest Awards for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22 in the presence of Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania, PCCF Ajay Srivastva, Wildlife Chief warden Rajiv Kumar and other local leaders and officials.
Addressing a gathering at Chowari, in Bhattiyat Vidhan Sabha area of Chamba district today he said that during these 75 years Himachal has emerged as a model State of the country not only for hilly States but also for several developed States.
Himachal Pradesh during these 75 years has made unparallel progress in all spheres.
He said the credit of this goes to the hardworking and dedicated people of the State, besides able leadership provided in the State from time to time.
Thakur also urged the people to get themselves vaccinated with booster dose.
He claimed opposition in the State is a leaderless, issueless and directionless party. The double engine government is vital for ensuring that pace of development goes uninterrupted for years together.
A documentary based on 75 years of glorious history of Himachal Pradesh produced by the Information and Public Relations Department was also screened on the occasion.
The Chief Minister also flagged off Fire Tender vehicles on the occasion.
Later, the Chief Minister performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 22 developmental projects worth about Rs. 162 crore at Chowari in Bhattiyat assembly constituency of Chamba district today.
Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania urged the people of the area to strengthen the hands of the Chief Minister to ensure that the "pace of development goes uninterrupted".
