Plant at least one sapling to fight three grave climate challenges Union minister Yadav to citizens

Indore, Jul 12 (PTI) Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday urged people to plant at least one sapling to help address the challenges of global warming, degradation due to use of pesticides and ecological imbalance.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change was speaking after taking part in 'Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam' programme launched under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign, during which he planted a sapling at Border Security Force's Revati Range in Bijasan area here.
Incidentally, on July 14 last year, 12.41 lakh saplings were planted at Revati Range in 24 hours, a feat recognised by Guinness World Records.
He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and 'Mission LiFE', which he said were two mantras for sustainable living.
"In the last 200 years, due to unchecked human development, the planet's temperature has risen more than in the last several lakh years. We are witnessing a rise in cancer cases due to the use of chemical pesticides in farming. These pesticides are also turning our soil barren. Moreover, ecological imbalance is also increasing," he said citing the three most grave challenges facing earth.
"Trees offer solutions to all three challenges. People must plant at least one tree in their mother's name. As children, whenever we left home, our mothers would remind us to take care. Every mother, in essence, asks us to care of the earth. Planting a tree in her name is a way to honour that," Yadav said while crediting trees for sustaining Narmada river, considered MP's lifeline.
The line "shasya shyamalam" from the national song Vande Mataram inspires countrymen to keep land green and fertile, Yadav added.
State minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said this monsoon, the initiative has expanded into 'Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam' programme, which involves people planting saplings to create gardens across the city.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)