Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 (NationPress) On the momentous occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, Odisha achieved a remarkable milestone by planting approximately 1.5 crore saplings within a mere 12 hours as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – 2.0’ initiative on Wednesday.

The Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department hailed this accomplishment as a historic and unprecedented achievement that has garnered global attention.

“Odisha has shown that when united by a common goal, its citizens can exceed even the highest aspirations. From the creation of the iconic Konark Sun Temple to now achieving a world record in environmental stewardship, the people of Odisha have once again showcased their extraordinary potential. September 17, 2025, will be remembered not just in India’s narrative but as a global benchmark - where a simple act of planting saplings blossomed into a grand movement of hope and unity,” the statement read.

This significant event took place under the banner of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – 2.0’ campaign, honoring the 75th birthday of PM Modi.

Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged citizens to plant 75 lakh saplings between sunrise and sunset. The response was overwhelming, with around one and a half crore saplings planted in just half a day, far exceeding the target. By 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Odisha not only reached a staggering number of plantations but also secured its place in world records. The extensive plantation effort saw active participation from key government departments, officials, NGOs, panchayat blocks, and district headquarters. Citizens across the state were also encouraged to join the movement, transforming the campaign into a genuine community effort.

Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia expressed profound gratitude, noting that Odisha is progressively turning promises into thriving forests, hope into shade, and activism into lasting life.

To contextualize Odisha’s achievement, previous records were held by Madhya Pradesh with 11 lakh saplings planted in a day and Assam with 9.26 lakh saplings.

Odisha’s remarkable accomplishment far exceeds these, establishing a new humanitarian record that will motivate future generations. While the figures are impressive, Minister Singkhuntia emphasized that the overarching vision is what truly matters—creating a cleaner, greener, more beautiful, prosperous, and self-reliant Odisha for future generations.

In a striking demonstration of environmental commitment, a total of 1,49,11,339 seedlings have been planted across 30 districts by 4:30 p.m. This substantial effort encompasses 71,924 plantation sites, underscoring a significant push towards afforestation and ecological restoration in the state.

Sundergarh district led the plantation drive with an impressive 14,21,618 seedlings planted. Following closely, Koraput secured second place with 11,01,624 seedlings, while Keonjhar stands third with 10,42,927 seedlings. The fourth and fifth positions went to Mayurbhanj and Kalahandi districts, which planted 9,17,659 and 7,67,510 seedlings, respectively. At the bottom of the list, Deogarh recorded the least with 1,31,885 seedlings by 4:30 p.m.