Indore, renowned for its cleanliness, has embarked on an ambitious journey to set a world record in greenery. The city began its campaign at 6 am today, with Home Minister Amit Shah arriving to lead this massive tree-planting initiative. The campaign was ceremonially kicked off on July 6 by saints who planted 11,000 saplings.
Today marks the culmination of the campaign with the planting of 11 lakh saplings on the Revati hill along Sanwer Road. The event is being monitored by around 100 representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records to ensure proper documentation and verification.
Previously, Assam held the world record for planting 9,25,000 saplings in a single day. Indore aims to surpass this milestone and secure a place in the Guinness Book. The plantation effort spans approximately 90 acres on Revati hill.
Notable participants in the event include Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and actor Randeep Hooda. The plantation drive began early in the morning, with Revati hill being divided into nine zones and 80 sub-zones to facilitate the massive undertaking. After visiting Pitru Parvat on Airport Road, Home Minister Amit Shah will plant trees on Revati hill, joined by Chief Minister Yadav and actor Hooda.
In a symbolic gesture, the Home Minister will plant a Triveni, which includes Neem, Banyan, and Peepal saplings, alongside the Har Singar plant, revered as Lord Krishna's favorite flower. The campaign has received a donation of trees worth Rs 20 crore, transported in 300 trucks to the Revati range.
Initiative has garnered widespread support
The initiative has garnered widespread support, with citizens, NGOs, politicians, social organizations, religious leaders, BSF personnel, police, government employees, and students all participating. Out of the 11 lakh saplings, 9 lakh are being planted on Revati hill alone.
This one-day campaign is part of a larger effort to plant a total of 51 lakh saplings across Indore. Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, leading this mega greenery campaign, stated that from July 6 to July 13, approximately 23 to 24 lakh saplings have already been planted. The goal is to exceed the target of 51 lakh plants.
A 24-Hour Marathon for the Record Books
The Guinness Book of World Records requires the plantation campaign to run for 24 hours to be eligible for record status. The campaign began with the digging of pits following a Puja ceremony on Saturday evening. Minister Vijayvargiya and Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava inaugurated the event by cutting the ribbon, initiating the digging process that continued until 6 am on Sunday.
Planting began at 6 am
Planting began at 6 am and will proceed until 6 pm. Preparations for the campaign have been underway for about six weeks, involving area division, stone removal, machine drilling of pits, and positioning the plants near the pits.
100 cameras have been installed
To ensure accurate recording and monitoring, 100 cameras have been installed throughout the plantation site. A control room has been established, complete with tents and canopies in each zone, providing amenities such as drinking water, convenience rooms, and food for the participants.
A command and control room features a large screen displaying live views of the plantation across the area. This center also serves as an information hub, relaying messages and updates to citizens participating in the campaign.
Indore's determination and extensive planning are set to transform the city into a green haven while aiming to make a mark in the Guinness Book of World Records.