Indore sets World Record with massive Tree Plantation Drive

India’s cleanest city plants over 11 Lakh saplings in 24 Hours, aims to become Greenest City

K K Jha

Indore: India’s cleanest city, Indore, has set a new Guinness World Record by planting over 11 lakh saplings in just 24 hours from July 13 to July 14, 2024. The world record certificate was presented to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, and Indore Mayor Pushya Mitra Bhargav on Sunday evening by representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the event, planting a sapling in honor of his mother at the BSF Reoti range. Addressing a large gathering, Shah emphasized that Indore, already celebrated for its cleanliness, food, and good governance, will now also be known as a green city. This transformation is driven by the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign was launched by Modi on June 5 to mark World Environment Day, aiming to plant 140 crore trees across India, including 5.5 crore in Madhya Pradesh. Shah praised the campaign for allowing people to honor both their mothers and Mother Earth simultaneously.
Shah commended Indore’s achievements as a smart city, metro city, clean city, and educational hub, predicting it will also gain recognition as a green city. He applauded the CAPF soldiers for planting 5.21 crore saplings last year and announced plans to plant an additional 6 crore saplings by 2024.
Describing Madhya Pradesh as the “lungs of India,” Shah noted that 31% of the state’s area is under forest cover, accounting for 12% of India’s total forest cover. This has promoted environment-friendly tourism in the state, which boasts 6 tiger reserves, 11 national parks, and 24 sanctuaries. He also mentioned the introduction of leopards to Kunho by Prime Minister Modi.
Shah highlighted several other environmental initiatives by Prime Minister Modi, including the “One Earth, One Family, and One Future” campaign, the Global Biofuel Alliance, and the Green Credit Program proposed at COP 28. He noted the approval for blending 20% ethanol in petrol and diesel by 2025 and the Rs 20,000 crore Green Hydrogen Mission.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced that under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, 51 lakh saplings are being planted in Indore, 40 lakh in Bhopal, and 10 lakh in Ujjain. Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya pledged that Indore would exceed its target, aiming to plant 60 lakh saplings, far surpassing its population of 30 lakh.
The event saw the participation of numerous ministers, local MLAs, MPs, and senior party leaders, demonstrating a significant commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development in Madhya Pradesh.