Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday urged residents across the state to join Van Mahotsav by planting at least one sapling during the week-long celebration, saying broad public participation is vital to secure a greener, more sustainable future. The appeal, timed with the start of the yearly tree-planting drive, called on citizens to turn the campaign into a people’s movement and increase the state’s green cover through “Jan Bhagidari” (public participation).
In a post on X, Sarma wrote, “Today marks the beginning of #VanMahotsav, a week-long celebration of nature,” and urged every citizen to plant a sapling over the next week. He framed the drive as a collective responsibility: “Let us devote the power of Jan Bhagidari to increase our green cover and guarantee a secure future for our children by planting a sapling over the next one week,” he said.
Sarma also shared a personal commitment to planting trees, saying he makes it a point to plant a sapling whenever he travels outside Guwahati on official visits. “On all my travels outside Guwahati, I always make it a point to plant one,” he added.
The state government has stepped up afforestation and conservation efforts in recent years, running large-scale plantation initiatives and programs to protect biodiversity and wildlife habitats while encouraging community involvement. The Chief Minister’s appeal comes at the onset of the monsoon — the optimal season for planting, when rainfall improves sapling survival — and aims to harness favourable conditions to expand Assam’s forest cover.
