Jaipur. The Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said that after the water revolution launched in the form of Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (MJSA), forest revolution is going on in the state. The campaign which was started last year for water conservation witnessed massive public support, the afforestation drive is also being undertaken with the same level of public cooperation, she said.
Smt. Raje was addressing the 68th state level Van Mahotsav in Govindpura Beed village in Jaipur on Monday. She said that in order to provide safe future to the state’s environment, it is essential that every person is actively involved in this campaign. The Chief Minister said that in the second phase of MJSA, 60 lakh saplings will be planted in the state. Under the Van Mahotsav, 15 lakh saplings have been planted in various districts at block and panchayat level.Giving examples of Sirohi kalan village of Fagi and Sanwaria Kalan of Dudu Panchayat Samiti, CM said that due to water conservation works done under MJSA, the productivity of gram crop in this area has doubled. In the villages where farmers could harvest only one crop in a year, now they can reap two crops. She said that in the first three years of the campaign, 12000 villages will be covered in MJSA in the entire state.
Smt. Raje said that urban areas have also been added in this campaign. In the urban areas, repairing of damaged wells and baoris is being done to preserve traditional water structures. Rana Ranjit Singh ki Baori in Rajsamand, Jachcha ki Baori in Hindon and Nachan Baori of Ajmer are shining examples of the success of this campaign.Union Minister for Forest and Environment Dr. Harshvardhan said that the campaigns being undertaken in Rajasthan for water conservation will set a good example for the world. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also extended good wishes to the people of the state for this noble cause. On the innovation of geo-tagging of plantation in the state, Dr. Harshvardhan said that it is commendable to use science and technology to save trees.
Smt. Raje also named the three cubs born in the Nahargarh Biological and Zoological Park. She named the female cub as Tara and the male cubs as Tejas and Tripura.
Earlier, the Chief Minister and the Union Environment Minister planted saplings of Platypus to launch the state-level Van Mahotsav. They also planted maulashree, goolar, peepal, banyan, khejdi and other plants as well. Subsequently, Smt. Raje also visited an exhibition on Environment Protection jointly organised by the forest department and MJSA.
On this occasion, Industry Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Environment and Forests Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Chairman of Rajasthan River Basin Authority Shriram Vedire, MLA Ashok Parnami & Jagdish Narayan Meena, Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoti, Director General Forests of GoI Sidhant Das, ACS Forest and Environment NC Goyal and PCCF (Hof) AK Goyal along with other Public Representatives and officials were present.
