The Impressive TimesUttarakhand, 05 June: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Thursday, honoured individuals and institutions for their exemplary contributions to environmental conservation at the Chief Sevak Sadan, located at the CM residence.
The Sunderlal Bahuguna Nature and Environmental Protection Award 2025 (Government Category) was presented to the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation. The award was received by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Shipra Joshi. In the Non-Government Category, the award was conferred on Vijay Jardhari and Pratap Singh Pokhriyal for their outstanding work in environmental preservation.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled an awareness poster developed by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and inaugurated a newly developed portal by the Eco-Tourism Corporation. He administered an oath for a Plastic-Free Uttarakhand and distributed cloth bags to school children to promote sustainable practices.
CM Dhami directed the Forest Department to plant at least 1,000 fruit-bearing trees in each forest division of the state this year to ensure adequate food for wild animals. He urged citizens and tourists not to feed animals substances harmful to their health and encouraged people to plant trees on special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. He stressed that such committed actions are essential to promoting environmental protection.
Extending his best wishes on World Environment Day, the Chief Minister highlighted Uttarakhand’s rich biodiversity and natural beauty, describing it as a land of dense forests, sacred rivers, and Himalayan glaciers. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is making global strides in renewable energy through initiatives like the Solar Mission, Electric Mobility, Green Hydrogen Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange Programme, and Plastic-Free India Campaign.
CM Dhami noted that the state government celebrates the Harela festival as a grand nature conservation movement. For the conservation of traditional water sources like naulas, dharas, and rain-fed rivers, the government has established the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA).
Over the past year, the state has successfully conserved and treated over 6,500 water sources and has harvested around 3.12 million cubic meters of rainwater. It is now mandatory for vehicles entering the state during religious events like the Char Dham Yatra and tourist seasons to be equipped with dustbins.
He also highlighted that the recently held National Games in Uttarakhand were themed as Green Games, where all medals and awards were made from e-waste and sports kits were manufactured using recycled materials.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal stated that Uttarakhand is among the top five states in India for carbon absorption and prioritizes public participation in environmental efforts. He added that tourists visiting the state are being made aware of eco-friendly practices and steps are being taken to reduce plastic use.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan emphasized the importance of balancing development with environmental conservation. He mentioned the introduction of the Gross Environment Product (GEP) concept and the state-level environmental awards, initiated under the Chief Minister’s directives. He concluded by saying that protecting the environment and conserving water is a collective responsibility.
The event was also attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Dhananjay Mohan and senior officials from the government, police, and forest departments.
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