Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai spearheaded the planting of 2,600 Peepal trees to establish a sprawling 6.5-hectare urban carbon sink.

ATAL NAGAR-NAVA RAIPUR, August 6 — Chhattisgarh’s Forest and Climate Change Department isn’t waiting for the environment to fix itself. Under the decisive leadership of Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, the department launched an unprecedented ecological overhaul, converting 6.5 hectares of Sector 39 into a massive, oxygen-rich carbon sink. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai kicked off Van Mahotsav-2026 by planting a Peepal sapling in his mother’s name, officially igniting the statewide “Peepal for People” campaign. The forest department’s officers didn’t just organize a routine plantation drive; they’ve orchestrated a highly coordinated operation that saw 2,600 Peepal saplings take root in a single day.

These dedicated forest officials have recognized that the Peepal tree offers a brilliant synthesis of Indian cultural faith and cutting-edge environmental science.

How can a single tree species transform an entire urban landscape?

Minister Kashyap explained that the Peepal isn’t just symbolically powerful; it’s scientifically unmatched in air purification, carbon absorption, preserving biodiversity, and providing a natural habitat for wildlife. And his department has the numbers to back up their ambitious vision. Over the last two years, Chhattisgarh’s forestry teams have successfully planted a staggering 7.50 crore saplings under the national “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” movement. Chief Minister Sai publicly praised Kashyap and his diligent officers, noting that while the central government set a target of 1.65 crore saplings for 2025, the state’s forest department demolished that goal by planting 3.55 crore trees. Now, they’ve set a monumental target of 2.59 crore saplings for 2026, easily surpassing the central benchmark of 2.50 crore.

So the department has turned environmental action into a massive public movement. Kashyap issued a passionate appeal for all citizens to plant at least one sapling alongside hoisting the national flag this upcoming Independence Day.

The entire state leadership stood united on the soil to champion the forest department’s vision. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Finance and Environment Minister O.P. Choudhary, Food Minister Dayal Das Baghel, and Culture Minister Rajesh Agarwal joined the effort. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Industry Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan, Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma, and MLA Indra Kumar Sahu also planted saplings, showcasing deep institutional backing. Spiritual leader Guru Khushwant Saheb and Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation Chairman Ramsevak Paikra added their strong support to the cause.

Behind the scenes, the seamless execution fell to the department’s top brass. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) Shri Arun Kumar Pandey, alongside Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Climate Change Manoj Kumar Pingua, took to the field with dedicated departmental officers and nearly 1,000 citizens to ensure every sapling found its place. The event concluded with a collective, lifelong pledge to not merely plant trees, but to aggressively protect and nurture them. Thanks to the tireless work of Minister Kashyap, PCCF Arun Kumar Pandey, and the field teams, Nava Raipur is rapidly evolving into a model of green urban resilience.