Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav receives Guinness certificate for November 7 plantation feat

KANPUR: The Guinness Book of World Records had issued a certificate to the chief minister in Saifai on Saturday evening for planting the maximum number of saplings in a day. The feat was achieved on November 7.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had led the drive on November 7 to plant 10 lakh saplings at 10 locations in a day. The drive started at Maudaha in Hamirpur district, besides nine other places, including Sonbhadra, Lalitpur, Mirzapur, Farrukhabad, Chitrakoot, Gautambudh Nagar, Shravasti and at two places in Lakhimpur district on that day.

Music maestro AR Rahman, PWD minster Shivpal Singh Yadav, Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav and senior member of Saifai Mahotsav organising committee Ved Vrat Gupta were present when the CM received the award.

The present Guinness Record is planting of 8.5 lakh saplings in a day.

The plantation drive was held in the presence of international auditors at all spots across the state to verify the record, following which a certificate by Guiness Book of World Records was handed over to the chief minister at Saifai on Saturday.

The plantation drive was started by the CM on November 7 as a part of 'Clean UP, Green UP' campaign in coordination with state forest department at 10 places including Bundelkhand's Hamirpur district.

Saplings of peepal, neem, jamun, pakad, gular, sheesham, kanji, aonla, chilbil and imli were planted. The water-starved Bundelkhand was specifically chosen for the launch of the campaign to improve the depleting green cover in the region. Under the Rs 200 crore plan, over 2.5 lakh saplings were planted in 500 acres of land close to Mahoba dam alone.

"Between 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, more than 10.15 lakh saplings were either planted or distributed for the area of 850 hectare on November 7, " a government spokesperson had said, adding that counting of plants was done on the spot mechanically by auditors. For the survival of saplings, barb fencing and trenches have also been made.