ЁЯУ░ State-Level Van Mahotsav to be Held at Nihari, Ghumarwin on August 14; CM Sukhu to Inaugurate
Forest Department Sets Target to Plant 50 Lakh Saplings Across 8,000 Hectares; Special Emphasis on Planting Chinar Trees for the First Time
VIDYA SAGAR-11/08/2026
ЁЯУН Shimla / Ghumarwin (Special Correspondent)
This yearтАЩs State-Level Forest Festival (Van Mahotsav) will be organized on August 14 at Nihari in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will grandly inaugurate the state-level event.
Sharing details about the upcoming event, Head of Forest Force (HoFF) and Chief Project Director of the JICA Forestry Project, Dr. Sanjay Sood, stated that strict directions have been issued to the Bilaspur Forest Circle and Bilaspur Forest Division to ensure the event’s grand success. During the Van Mahotsav, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will also distribute saplings to school children and individuals actively working in forest conservation.
Target to Plant 50 Lakh Saplings in 2026
To expand the state’s green cover, the Forest Department has formulated a comprehensive strategy for the monsoon season:
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Land Coverage: Plantation will be carried out across 7,000 to 8,000 hectares of land statewide.
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Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana: Out of the total target, saplings will be planted across nearly 4,000 hectares under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana.
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Number of Saplings: A target of planting 50 lakh saplings of various species has been set for this season.
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Focus on Chinar Saplings: Keeping in view the distinct geographical conditions and climate across different districts, special emphasis is being laid on planting Chinar trees for the first time.
Mission-32: Target of 32% Green Cover by 2030
The department has pledged to achieve ‘Mission-32’, aimed at increasing the total green (forest) cover of Himachal Pradesh to 32% by the year 2030. Both the JICA Forestry Project and the Chief Minister Van Vistar Yojana are playing a pivotal role in reaching this milestone.
| Scheme / Project | Achievement / Target |
| JICA Forestry Project (2018тАУ2025) | Saplings planted across 8,343 hectares in 22 forest divisions |
| JICA Current Target (2026) | Target to plant saplings across 500 hectares of land |
| CM Van Vistar Yojana | Successfully planted saplings across 124 hectares last year |
Public Participation Key to Success: Dr. Sanjay Sood
“The state-level Van Mahotsav at Nihari in Ghumarwin will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister on August 14. To make Himachal greener under Mission-32, the process of planting over 50 lakh saplings, including Chinar, is underway. I appeal to the people of the state to actively participate in this green drive and contribute significantly to forest conservation.”
тАФ Dr. Sanjay Sood, Head of Forest Force (Himachal Pradesh)
