Chandigarh, July 10:
The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, today launched Van Mahotsav 2026 by participating in a series of plantation programmes at multiple locations across Chandigarh, reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to environmental conservation and increasing the city’s green cover. As part of the campaign, the Governor personally planted saplings at all seven locations, encouraging citizens to actively participate in protecting and preserving the environment.
The Administrator formally inaugurated the plantation drive at the Daddu Majra Dumping Ground, where he released the Department of Forests and Wildlife’s Greening Chandigarh Action Plan (GCAP) booklet. He also flagged off three vehicles under the ‘Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar’ initiative for distributing saplings of different plant species among citizens, besides flagging off 11 vehicles deployed under the National Clean Air Programme (N-CAP), including water sprinklers, jetting machines and other equipment for effective air quality management.
Addressing the public at Daddu Majra, the Administrator said that India’s cultural ethos has always regarded the Earth as Mother, making it the collective responsibility of every citizen to protect and nurture nature. He emphasized that trees are the foundation of life, providing oxygen, maintaining ecological balance and sustaining biodiversity, and urged every citizen to plant and nurture at least one tree.
Highlighting Chandigarh’s environmental initiatives, Shri Kataria termed the transformation of the Daddu Majra Dumping Ground into a green plantation zone as a remarkable example of scientific planning and sustained efforts. He said the project demonstrates how degraded land can be converted into a valuable green asset for future generations. Stressing that the success of plantation drives should be measured by the survival rate of trees rather than merely the number planted, he called for scientific plantation, regular monitoring and long-term maintenance.
The Administrator appreciated Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi and the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh for preparing a scientific plantation action plan and lauded the collective efforts of government departments, NSS volunteers, Resident Welfare Associations, voluntary organisations and citizens in making the Van Mahotsav campaign a success. He expressed confidence that Chandigarh’s environmental initiatives would inspire similar efforts across the country.
Later the Administrator, accompanied by his wife, Smt. Anita Kataria planted a Kalpvriksha (Adansonia digitata) sapling during a plantation drive at Lake Beat of Department of Forests and Wildlife.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Shri Saurabh Joshi said the reclaimed Daddu Majra site has been transformed into a beautiful green landscape where residents can now breathe fresh, fragrant air instead of enduring the foul smell that once emanated from the towering mountain of garbage. Recalling the challenging conditions that existed earlier, he said the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh successfully completed the legacy waste remediation with the unwavering support of the Administrator, public representatives, local residents and all stakeholders. He expressed gratitude to the Administrator Shri Gulab Chand Kataria for his constant guidance, timely reviews and continuous support throughout the project.
The Mayor further said that the successful remediation of the legacy waste site marks the end of one of Chandigarh’s biggest environmental challenges. He informed that all major litigations and statutory hurdles related to the dumping ground have been resolved, paving the way for comprehensive ecological restoration and sustainable development of the reclaimed land. He added that the project reflects the Corporation’s commitment to scientific waste management and environmental conservation.
Home Secretary-cum-Secretary, Local Government, Shri Mandip Singh Brar, IAS, highlighted the Administrator’s sustained commitment to environmental conservation, noting that since Van Mahotsav 2025, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria has consistently emphasised not just plantation but also the survival and maintenance of saplings. He said this vision has strengthened Chandigarh’s efforts to enhance its green cover. Referring to the successful legacy waste remediation project, he said the city is now moving towards scientific waste management with the establishment of a Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant by Indian Oil Corporation Limited for sustainable processing of municipal solid waste. He also appreciated the Municipal Corporation, technical agencies and local residents for their collective efforts in achieving this environmental milestone.
Earlier, Shri Saurabh Kumar, IFS, briefed the gathering about the Van Mahotsav programme and the plantation schedule planned across Chandigarh during this year’s campaign. He emphasized that extensive plantation drives with indigenous species will be undertaken to further strengthen the city’s green cover and ecological balance.
The Administrator also participated in plantation programmes at IRB Battalion, Sarangpur, organised by the Chandigarh Police, and at the nearby plantation site developed by the Engineering Department. He later participated in the plantation programme organised by the Department of School Education and planted a sapling at Government Model High School, Sector 25. Thereafter, at the Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest, Daria, Shri Kataria inaugurated a High-Tech Nursery and participated in a plantation drive organised by the Department of Forests and Wildlife.
The Administrator also participated in a plantation programme at Sector 28-B organised by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. He later planted a sapling at the Lily Garden (Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Garden) in Sector 9 as part of the Van Mahotsav celebrations.
Present during the occasion were Councillor (Daddu Majra) and Former Mayor Shri Kuldeep Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab Shri Vivek Pratap Singh, Shri Amit Kumar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shri Saurabh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, and other officers of the Chandigarh Administration.
