Photo Credit: Rusen Kumar
India CSR News Network
MUMBAI: The Mahindra Group, one of India’s leading business houses, today said that it will continue planting 1 million trees every year under Mahindra Hariyali project, launched on October 2, 2007, the Group’s 62nd Founders’ Day. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis planted the 13 Millionth tree, a Rudraksha sapling, at Worli
Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group said, “I remember planting the very first sapling at the launch of Mahindra Hariyali a decade ago and I am delighted to see this programme take on the size and scale that it has achieved today. We are in the midst of a man-made crisis and it is our duty to strengthen Nature’s hand to help tackle climate change and meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement. The Mahindra Hariyali programme forms part of our contribution to the cause.
While planing 13 millionth sapling for Mahindra Haryali, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis said, “Climate is a reality and in Maharashtra we have been experiencing droughts across the State. If one compares the tree cover in a small country like Germany which is 33%, in Maharashtra it is just 21%. As part of our mission to give Maharashtra a new green cover, we plan to plant 50 crore trees in the next two years and thus plan to take the State’s cover to 33%.”
“In keeping with Mahindra’s number of trees planted, in the next one year, we plan to plant 13 crore trees. We intend to plant fruit trees to not just aid tree plantation, but also provide alternative livelihoods to the farmers.”, added Chief Minister.
Congratulating Mahindra Group on this milestone of planting 13 million trees, Minister of State for Finance & Planning and Forest Department, Sudhir Mungantiwar stated, “I am delighted that a corporate like Mahindra has not just focused on profits, but has also given equal importance to the planet. It is noteworthy that a corporate like Mahindra has already begun work on greening of the State. I invite individuals and corporates to come forward and contribute to Mission Maharashtra’s greening efforts and whole heartedly support and participate in our Namami Chandrabhaaga Project.”
The world’s forests, along with its oceans, absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The trees are the lungs of the Earth and protecting them is crucial to fight global warming. India has vast amounts of land classified as forests which have little tree cover. Reforestation of these lands will help India meet the commitment it has made in the Paris Accord and significantly tackle climate change.
Ten years ago, Hariyali began as an effort to enhance India’s green cover. Every tree is helping combat climate change and this Hariyali tribe is growing every year. Today, there is one Hariyali tree for every 100 people in India and the Hariyali tribe has 3.6 times the total amount of trees in Mumbai including those at the Aarey Colony.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group came together to plant a Rudraksha sapling at the Adhya Shankaracharya Garden in Worli, Mumbai.
