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Van Mahotsav Fortnight: Mass Tree Plantation Drive Held at Smriti Van, Rishikesh
RISHIKESH — A large-scale tree plantation drive was conducted at Smriti Van under the ongoing Van Mahotsav (Forest Festival) fortnight.
Organisation and Leadership
The event was coordinated by Vinod Prasad Juglan, environmentalist, founder of Smriti Van, and regional environment coordinator for the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas.
Participation
Forest officials, forest staff, volunteers from local social organizations, and trainees took part, planting various species of medicinal plants across the site.
Key Statements
Vinod Juglan stated that Van Mahotsav serves as a medium for environmental conservation, not merely symbolic tree worship, and stressed that nurturing planted trees is more critical than the act of planting.
Rishikesh Forest Range Officer Gambhir Singh Dhamanda said over 5,000 saplings and trees of varying sizes have been planted and successfully maintained at Smriti Van since its founding.
Development work, including beautification and conservation, is continuing under the guidance of the Dehradun Divisional Forest Officer.
Deputy Divisional Forest Officer Anil Singh Rawat commended Juglan's contribution to establishing Smriti Van.