Madhya Pradesh plants 66 million plants along Narmada, creates world record

Several volunteers from Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with the State government, came together and planted more than 66 million trees in just 12 hours leading to a world record. This massive environmental drive happened on Sunday, July 2, which Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan termed as a historic day for the state, when saplings were placed along the river Narmada.

More than 20 species of saplings were planted and the main motivation behind this initiative was India's loyal commitment to combat climate change, under the Paris agreement, according to which India should develop its forest area to five million hectares before 2030. The previous record was also set by India last year in Uttar Pradesh where 49.3 million saplings were planted in just 24 hours.in a record-breaking environmental drive. The Government of Uttar Pradesh was also responsible for creating a world record in 2007 by planting 10 million trees in a single day.

According to a Forbes report, India is the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, just behind China and the United States. With significant steps being taken to curb the usage of coal for natural gas and renewable energy sources, India had been on the path to triple their coal-fired electricity generation by 2020.

Observers from Guinness World Records also monitored this sapling plantation in Madhya Pradesh and it is expected that they are to confirm in the coming weeks that the effort set a new high, reported The Independent.

Children and elderly people were also included in this drive, which started at 7am and ended at 7pm. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to Twitter to say,

"By planting trees we are not only serving Madhya Pradesh but the world at large."

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