Chandigarh Administration will launch Van Mahotsav 2025 on July 5. The Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Chandigarh will inaugurate and lead the greening drive.
Chandigarh, India, July 4, 2025 — The Chandigarh Administration is preparing to celebrate Van Mahotsav 2025 with a large-scale plantation initiative on July 5, demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability and public participation in greening efforts.
The Chief Guest, Gulab Chand Kataria, who is the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, will lead the celebrations. The event will begin with a ceremonial planting by the Honorable Governor at Rajendra Park in Sector 1, marking the official launch of the plantation drive.
In a significant gesture underscoring the importance of the initiative, the Hon’ble Governor will also personally visit and inspect several plantation sites across Chandigarh, making the day a memorable and inspirational occasion for all stakeholders.
The plantation drive will take place across 253 locations in the city, with an ambitious goal of planting over one lakh saplings in a single day. This initiative is led by the Department of Forests & Wildlife, UT Chandigarh, which serves as the central coordinating body. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation, the Engineering Department, and 18 other greening agencies, including the School Education and Higher Education Departments, Central Armed Police Forces, CISF, PGIMER, CSIR institutions, Panjab University, GMCH, and NSS volunteers, among others.
To improve public accessibility and encourage greater citizen participation, the Forest Department will launch the “Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar” scheme. As part of this initiative, the Hon’ble Governor will inaugurate three specially designated vehicles that will distribute saplings throughout the city according to a fixed schedule. These mobile distribution vehicles will visit all sectors in the Union Territory, making it easier for residents to participate in the plantation movement. Interested individuals can obtain saplings at a nominal cost, contributing directly to the greening of Chandigarh and fostering a sense of shared environmental responsibility.
This year’s Van Mahotsav introduces several new and impactful initiatives:
- Gap Plantation: This initiative aims to address empty spaces in existing green areas to optimize tree cover.
- ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’: A heartwarming initiative that encourages school children and others to plant a tree in honor of their mothers.
- ‘Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar’: An outreach program by the Forest Department that brings plantation efforts directly to local communities.
Additionally, in an innovative step towards digital monitoring, selected plantations carried out in educational institutions will be tracked using QR codes integrated with a dedicated mobile application. This system will ensure ongoing care and monitoring of the saplings. Furthermore, every participant who plants a sapling will receive a digital certificate of appreciation, recognizing their contribution to environmental protection.
Van Mahotsav 2025 is envisioned as more than just a one-day event; it aims to be a citizen-driven movement for environmental stewardship. With active participation from government departments, educational institutions, scientific organizations, and the general public, Chandigarh seeks to strengthen its role as a leader in sustainable urban development.
The Chandigarh Administration invites all citizens to participate in creating a greener, healthier city.
Source: Chandigarh Administration
– UPDATE – July 5, 2025 –
Photos: Gulab Chand Kataria, the Governor of Punjab, participated in the Plantation Drive at the Panjab University campus to celebrate Vanmahotsav 2025. The Vice-Chancellor of PU and other senior officials also took part.
Photo: The Director of the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh participated in the Van Mahotsav 2025 celebrations by planting a sapling.
UPDATE – July 6, 2025
– Van Mahotsav 2025: Chandigarh’s Largest Tree Plantation Drive –
In what can be described as one of the largest and most significant environmental events in the history of Chandigarh, Punjab Governor and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, led a massive city-wide tree plantation drive in celebration of ‘Van Mahotsav 2025.’
On this occasion, the scale of the event was unprecedented. In just one day, a total of 105,874 saplings were planted at 253 pre-identified locations throughout the city. From bustling city centers to quiet residential sectors, parks, institutional campuses, and road dividers, Chandigarh resonated with a spirit of environmental awareness.
The event symbolized the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability and reflected the Governor’s firm resolve to make Chandigarh one of India’s greenest, eco-friendly, and climate-resilient cities.
Demonstrating exceptional personal commitment, the Governor personally planted saplings at 23 different locations throughout the city, making a strong statement about the importance of preserving the environment for future generations. The Governor’s presence at such a wide variety of sites sparked enthusiasm among officials, students, volunteers, and citizens, transforming the day into a vibrant celebration of collective responsibility and civic pride.
The Governor personally led a tree plantation initiative at 23 locations across Chandigarh, planting a diverse array of saplings that highlight ecological, cultural, and medicinal significance. The specific trees he planted include:
- “Rudraksha” at Punjab Raj Bhavan
- “Crushia” at Matka Chowk
- “Kapur” at Patiala Ki Rao
- “Mango tree” at Panjab University
- “Neeli Gulmohar” at Shantikunj and Sector 18
- “Shyam Tulsi” and “Amla” at the Sector 22 School
- “Gardenia” at Sector 23
- “Kachnaar” and “Tulsi” at the CRPF 13 Battalion Camp
- “Gulmohar” at GMCH-32
- “Guava” at CISF Sector 31
- “Biksa Orelana” and another “Mango tree” in Sector 26
- “Kachnaar” in the Garden of Spring at Sector 53
- “Triveni” (Peepal, Banyan, and Neem) at Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest
- “Rudraksha” at Taru Vatika at Government Model School, Sector 26
Present at the event were the Mayor of Chandigarh, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, the Home Secretary of Chandigarh Administration, the DGP of Chandigarh, the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, the Chief Conservator of Forests, and other officers from the Chandigarh Administration.
Source: Chandigarh Administration
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