Gujarat's Gandhinagar district marked the 77th Van Mahotsav with the plantation of 551 native trees at the Asudev Mahadev Temple complex in Jamla village, Mansa taluka, on 26 August. State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, who presided over the event, urged citizens to take active part in environmental conservation and the protection of natural resources.

Key Developments at the Plantation Drive

Pansheriya began the programme by offering prayers at the Asudev Mahadev temple before flagging off the 'Vriksh Rath' — a vehicle-mounted environmental awareness initiative. He personally planted native species including Bilva, mango, neem, and Ashoka. More than 300 Bilva saplings were among the indigenous trees planted at the temple complex during the event.

What the Minister Said

Speaking at the event, Pansheriya drew on Indian cultural traditions to make the case for conservation. Referencing thinkers such as Kanhaiyalal Munshi and ancient sages, he said: 'They had left a tradition of nature worship for society.' He also cited Lord Krishna's association with the Peepal tree as evidence that Indian civilisation had long recognised vegetation as living.

The minister stated that preventing pollution of air, water, and land was a moral responsibility shared by all citizens, noting that Indian scriptures had accorded air, water, and earth the status of deities. He urged residents to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and commit to both planting and nurturing trees.

Pansheriya also used the platform to warn against food adulteration, saying the Health Department would take strict action against those selling products such as fake ghee, mawa, and chemically treated sauces. 'These anti-social elements will not be spared,' he said.

Voices from the Ground

Mansa MLA J. S. Patel called for trees to be planted to mark life milestones — births, marriages, and death anniversaries. He added that where trees must be felled for development, ten times as many should be planted and nurtured in compensation. The minister also praised farmers shifting from chemical fertilisers to natural farming, and recognised organisations including Sadbhavana and Green Army for their plantation work.

Gujarat's Broader Green Push

The Gandhinagar event is part of a much larger statewide effort. The Gujarat state forest department has set a target of planting more than 5.51 crore trees across 74,453 hectares during the current plantation campaign, with more than 11.80 crore saplings planned for distribution through government nurseries.

Notably, Gandhinagar has already seen record-setting activity this season. In July, more than 3.61 lakh saplings were planted in a single hour using the Miyawaki method in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, earning a Guinness World Record. Cumulatively, more than 1.26 crore saplings have been planted across the constituency under a public plantation campaign. With state targets still to be met, Gandhinagar's green momentum shows no sign of slowing.