Haldwani – Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday participated in a tree plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign at the FTI campus in Haldwani. Through this initiative, he delivered a strong message promoting environmental conservation and public involvement.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign and contribute to the protection of nature. He highlighted that the campaign, launched nationwide under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continues to receive overwhelming support across the country.
CM Dhami iformed that in Uttarakhand, the campaign was formally inaugurated on the occasion of the Harela festival. Remarkably, on the very first day, over 8.13 lakh people participated by planting saplings across the state. He reiterated the state’s commitment by stating, “Nature conservation is our resolve,” and announced that the campaign would run throughout the holy month of Sawan in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
CM Expresses Grief on Mansa Devi Incident, Orders Strengthening of Religious Site Arrangements
The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the recent tragic incident at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He assured that the government is taking all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
To enhance safety, he said that arrangements are being reviewed and strengthened at all major religious places across the state. These include entry control, site expansion, parking facilities, traffic management, and strict adherence to security protocols based on the estimated number of devotees.
CM Dhami made it clear that such measures will be strictly implemented at all key religious destinations, including Mansa Devi Temple.
Strict Instructions Against Urban Encroachment
In another significant directive, the Chief Minister instructed the administration to take strict action against illegal encroachments in urban areas. He emphasized the urgent need for identifying and removing such encroachments through legal channels.
He added that tackling encroachment is not only essential for protecting public assets but also critical for maintaining the momentum of development projects and ensuring uninterrupted civic amenities.
The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries and officials including MLA Banshidhar Bhagat, campaign in-charge Dinesh Arya, Deepak Mehra, BJP District President Pratap Bisht, Dr. Jogendra Pal Singh Rautela, Mazhar Naeem Nawab, Hukum Singh Kunwar, Commissioner and Secretary to CM Deepak Rawat, IG Riddhim Aggarwal, District Magistrate Vandana Singh, and FTI Director Tejaswini Arvind Patil, among others.
