Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated a week-long afforestation drive at his official residence, ‘Oak Over,’ as part of the Municipal Corporation Shimla’s annual ‘Green Shimla, Our Shimla’ initiative. Symbolically launching the campaign by planting a sapling, Sukhu called on residents and local social organizations to take an active role in environmental conservation.
“If every individual commits to planting and nurturing at least one tree each year, it will make a lasting contribution to our environment and society,” the Chief Minister said. During the event, he also distributed Ban (oak) and Deodar saplings to MC Shimla councillors to kickstart local planting efforts.
Now in its third year, the ‘Green Shimla, Our Shimla’ campaign aims to plant between 5,000 and 10,000 saplings this season. Municipal officials highlighted previous successes, noting a strong survival rate among the 3,000 saplings planted on the Chamiyana hill area last year. An additional 3,000 saplings are slated for the same location this year.
State Ministers will also lead dedicated plantation activities throughout the week. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Mayor Surender Chauhan, and several city councillors were present at the launch.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
