For environment's sake: UP BJP launches plantation drive

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh on 15 July asked all its workers to plant at least one sapling each in their area, as it launched a campaign to boost and inculcate concern for the environment among its cadre.

The plantation drive, which will include MPs and MLAs also, has been initiated to commemorate the birth centenary celebration of party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. It will continue till 25 July.

"During this period, party workers at the booth-level will plant at least one sapling and also ensure that it is properly nurtured and looked after," UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi told PTI.

Noting that the present weather is absolutely conducive for undertaking plantation, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party's effort is to inculcate a feeling of concern for the environment among its cadres.

"This will benefit the environment in the long run," Tripathi added.

He said the entire exercise is being conducted under the supervision of UP general secretary Ashok Kataria, even as the party will be monitoring the plantation programme on a daily basis from Lucknow and seek feedback and daily progress reports from all districts.

"The endeavour is to ensure that plantation is done at the ground level and does not remain confined to rhetoric," he said.

However, the choice of the sapling has been left to party workers, who will taken the decision keeping in mind the weather and geography of their area, he added.

"The booth-level committees are complete at 1.08 lakh booths across the state. Each committee has 20 members. Arithmetically, we can expect that more than 20 lakh saplings will be planted during the period from 15 July to 25 July," Tripathi said.

After this, he said, party workers will hold seminars from 26 July to 31 July on a variety of issues.

"From 1 August to 7 August, blood testing programmes will be held, which will be followed by Seva Sahyogi Sangam from 8 August to 13 August.  A blood donation programme will be held on August 9 and a quiz competition on August 20," Tripathi said.

He said various programmes of different cells/wings of the party, including those of farmers, youth, women and scheduled castes, will be held from August 15 to September 15.