Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday directed the forest department to roll out plantation drives on all unused and vacant government land to boost the state’s green lungs and conserve the ecology.

Speaking at the formal launch of the 72nd Van Mahotsav, a month-long tree plantation drive organsied by the department at Gandhigram near Getalsud dam in Ranchi on Tuesday afternoon, Hemant stressed that planting trees and safeguarding them must be the job of every individual. “While we celebrate yet another Van Mahotsav this year we must take a vow to restore our jal, jungle and jameen (water, forest and land) which our ancestors have conserved for future generations. Now, it is time to do our bid for our next generation. Forests are our state’s identity. If they are lost, we will lose everything,” he said.

For this year's Van Mahotsav, the forest department has set a target of planting 1.67 crore saplings. In Ranchi, over a lakh saplings will be planted, said officials.

Hemant said, “I have directed officials to convert all unused and vacant government land into green lungs on priority basis. It will not just enhance the greenery and local ecology of the area but will also offer people avenues to spend time in the lap of nature.”

He added that the government was already running a plantation scheme titled CM Van Jan Bhumi Yojana under which anyone can begin plantation of fruit-bearing trees on private (raiyati) lands. “the government is providing incentive and assistance of up to 75% of the total cost of plantation. The person on whose land plantation is done will continue to be the owner of those plants/trees,” he explained.

Expressing concern over issues such as global warming, melting of glaciers, drying up of rivers, choking of dams and the like, Hemant said that only by everyone’s cooperation, humanity can be saved from the vagaries of such calamities.

“Concrete jungles in the form of infrastructure and development are certainly leading to declining of natural forests. We have to decide if we will be able to sustain development at the cost of nature and the environment without replenishing it,” he stressed, appealing to people to play their part.

Among those present at Tuesday's programme were Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu, Khijri MLA Rajesh Kachchap and officials from the forest department. In a symbolic gesture, the chief minister also provided saplings to five van-samitis and planted a sapling at Getalsud.