Colossal Green Move to rejuvenate Kukrail

Saumitra Van and Shakti Van being developed by Lucknow Development Authority on the banks of Kukrail river along Ayodhya Road will not only give fresh breath to the city dwellers. Along with this, it will create a different record in the mega campaign being run across the state for environmental protection.

The reason is that LDA will develop this forest area completely in just 2 years, whereas generally a forest takes a long time of 20 years to develop completely. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated this project by planting Harishankari Vatika (Peepal, Pilkhan and Banyan trees) in Saumitra Van. During this, officers and employees of various departments, school students, members of Civil Defense and social organizations planted more than 10,000 trees in the area. Before this, the CM tied a Raksha Sutra to these plants. With this, a 36.50 crore sapling plantation mega campaign was launched in the state in one day (20 July) under the Tree Plantation Jan Abhiyan-2024 (1st July to 30th September 2024). The CM also observed the proposed action plan for the development of Saumitra Van and also watched a short film related to it.

Under the leadership of the CM, a 36.50 crore plantation campaign was launched in Uttar Pradesh. CM Yogi planted a sapling under ‘Ped Lagao, Ped Bachao Jan Abhiyan-2024’ dedicated to ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ on the call of PM Narendra Modi.

CM Yogi said that earlier it had become a medium of pollution in the name of Akbarnagar, today Saumitra Van has been formed there in the name of Shri Ram’s younger brother Laxman. I also planted a Harishankari garden. Shakti Van is going to be built on the other side of it. It will become a medium to save the river culture of India. It will guide us in providing new strength with ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.

CM Yogi said that 50 years ago, Kukrail river used to flow and meet Gomti. After 1984, land mafia started filling it for their selfish interests, due to which this river turned into a drain and became a medium to throw out the drainage of settlements. On one hand, the river was killed and on the other hand, Gomti river was also polluted. Gomti became black after reaching Lucknow.

The state government decided to build a night safari in Kukrail. CM said that encroachment of this area was removed. With the help of administration, LDA rehabilitated 3100 families who had registry by giving them one house each. LDA got it vacated by filing FIR against the land mafia who cheated people by joining the land business and fighting till the Supreme Court.

CM Yogi said that last year, a large area was flooded in October. The flood period lasts from August to mid-September. For the first time, we were forced to face the horror of flood in the first week of July itself. Due to this, 24 districts of UP, with a population of more than 20 lakhs, were affected. Due to excessive rainfall in Nepal and Uttarakhand, these districts were hit by floods.

This is the ill effect of global warming. This time the months of May-June will be remembered for a long time. The temperature here usually remains 42-45, but this time it reached 47-50. This ill effect will also create a water crisis. Somewhere there will be untimely rains and somewhere there will be drought. Due to the changes caused by this, there is a possibility of famine in many places.

CM Yogi said that after the formation of the government in UP in 2017, we started the plantation campaign under the guidance and leadership of the PM. In seven years, the BJP-led government planted 168 crore saplings.

When a survey was conducted through a third party inside the state, it was found that 75-80 percent of the trees are still alive and are established as a good garden. Global institutions are also recognizing it. The environment is being damaged by carbon emissions. To protect it, farmers registered themselves with the tree planting campaign. Global institutions inspected their work. Arrangements were made to provide money in the form of carbon credit to 10 such farmers here. The result of the government’s efforts is that the Uttar Pradesh government is receiving a grant of 200 crores for this. These trees also played a big role in stopping carbon emissions. Farmers will get this amount continuously for five years. In the first phase, 25 thousand farmers are being provided the benefit of this facility.

CM Yogi said that everyone is associated with this campaign. The Governor is expanding this campaign in Sitapur. All the departments of the Uttar Pradesh government are connected with it under the leadership of the Forest Department. Every district, all the ministers, MPs, MLAs, Mayors, Block Pramukhs and public representatives are also connected. There is no dearth of plants in the state. The Forest and Horticulture Department has 50 crore plants and private nurseries have four crore plants. The CM expressed confidence that we will get the good news that Uttar Pradesh has achieved its target. When we are planting ‘one tree in the name of mother’, then it is also our responsibility to save it. If the tree is saved, the environment will also be saved. If the environment is saved, we will be able to avoid the horrors of global warming and heat wave. The alarm bell has rung.

Vice President of Lucknow Development Authority, Prathamesh Kumar said that out of the 24.7 acres of land freed from encroachment on the banks of Kukrail river along Ayodhya Road, Saumitra Van and Shakti Van are being developed in an area of ​​15.2 acres. At the same time, 4.942 acres of land has been reserved for STP. He informed that about 1,25,000 trees and plants of 11 tree species, 21 co-tree species, 10 herb species and 14 shrub species will be planted in this forest area. The entire forest area will be developed using the Miyawaki method.

On one hand, this will support air purification, shade and coolness, soil improvement, erosion control and biodiversity. On the other hand, a forest that normally takes 20 years to develop will take shape in just 02 years.

Apart from this, the buffer mangrove afforestation on the banks of the Kukrail river will be useful in improving water quality, flood mitigation, habitat and biodiversity and climate purification.

Underground pipeline laid for irrigation

LDA Vice President Prathamesh Kumar informed that a park will also be developed in the forest area. In which kids zone, lawn, green area, open gym and path-way for walking etc. will be built for children. Apart from this, high mast and facade lights will also be installed to enhance the beauty of the forest area. He told that permanent arrangements are being made for irrigation of the plants being planted in the forest area. Under this, work is being done to lay underground pipeline in the entire forest area and in the first phase, about 1.5 km long pipeline has been laid. Pop-up sprinklers have been installed at a prescribed distance, so that the plants can be watered regularly.

Ornamental and fragrant plants will also be planted

Assistant Horticulture Officer Karn Singh said that in the said development work, a group of fruit trees like mango, guava, litchi, jamun, drumstick etc. Shady plants of flowers like Amaltash, Palash, Neelmohar, Gulmohar, Champa etc. Ornamental plants like Royal Palm, Terminalia Mentally, Bismarckia Palm, Regnald, Star Light etc. Flower bushes like bougainvillea, tikoma, hibiscus, chandni etc. Aromatic flower plants like jasmine, raat rani, juhi, madhumaalti etc. will be planted. At the same time, plants of species like bamboo, arjun, jamun, cane etc. will be planted in waterlogged areas.

The tree plantation movement picked steam after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon the countrymen to plant ‘one tree in the name of mother’ on World Environment Day on June 5. The initiative near Kukrail also holds significance because efforts are on to return the pristine grandeur of Kukrail.  Environmentalists are worried that global warming in the world is going to create a new crisis for the living world. This crisis has been brought about by human selfishness, so the responsibility of controlling it should also be on humans.

Kukrail Sidelights

- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the projects by planting saplings in the forest area being developed on the banks of Kukrail river.

- 56 species of trees and plants will be planted in Saumitra Van and Shakti Van being developed by LDA in an area of ​​15.2 acres.

- These environment friendly trees will purify the air as well as support biodiversity, the natural habitat of birds will get a boost.

- Underground pipeline is being laid in the entire area for regular irrigation of plants, water will be sprinkled through sprinklers.