Patna: Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar marked World Environment Day on Thursday with a symbolic gesture of environmental commitment, planting saplings along Patna’s J.P. Ganga Path. The event coincided with an inspection of the ongoing beautification and greening work along the stretch, part of a broader government campaign to increase the state’s green cover and combat climate change.
Accompanied by top state officials and ministers, CM Nitish said the initiative aims not just to improve the aesthetic appeal of the riverside promenade but also to bolster its ecological footprint. “Every year, we mark World Environment Day by planting trees,” the Chief Minister said. “This is not just a ritual—it’s a necessity. Environmental protection is crucial if we want to safeguard our future.”
The beautification work on J.P. Ganga Path includes landscaping, the planting of over one lakh saplings, and fencing along a 7-km median. Officials said the Rs 13.51 crore project is progressing rapidly, with 20,000 trees already planted and median fencing completed. The remaining work is expected to be finished within the next two months. Addressing the media, CM Nitish reiterated the importance of tree plantation in tackling the climate crisis. He encouraged residents across the state to plant at least one tree, adding: “Protecting water and greenery is essential for safeguarding life.”
The initiative forms part of the state’s broader Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan, launched in 2019, which aims to address environmental degradation through afforestation and water conservation. CM Nitish noted that since the start of the campaign, 14 crore saplings have been planted. The drive builds on the earlier Hariyali Mission, established in 2012, which saw the plantation of 22 crore saplings by 2018–19. “After the bifurcation of Bihar, green cover had fallen to just 9%. It has now increased to approximately 15%,” CM Nitish said, crediting sustained state-level efforts for the improvement.
The tree-planting ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Environment and Climate Change Minister Dr. Sunil Kumar, Chief Secretary Dr. S. Siddharth, and several other senior bureaucrats and police officials.
