Ayodhya: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a new initiative on Wednesday to link environmental conservation with economic prosperity in the state.To promote institutionalisation of carbon credit trading, Yogi asked the officials to rope in village councils, forest officials, farmers and residents in the plantation drive and create awareness about the benefits that are being offered by the govt.During the plantation drive in Triveni Forest of Ayodhya, the CM presented carbon absorption and offset mechanism. “We are not just planting trees; we are preserving the future. Uttar Pradesh will now gain recognition and financial benefits on international platforms for its environmental efforts. UP will become a model state in carbon credit trading,” the CM said.Through Amrit Sarovar programme, reservoirs, ancient rivers, waterbodies and forests are being rejuvenated and revived so that millions of carbon credit could be absorbed in the state, a senior officer said.“Each village council will be registered for carbon credits based on the count of trees that have been planted, water source conservation, organic farming and other measures. The govt will work with expert organisations to make the certification process simple and transparent. A significant portion of the income from carbon credit sales will go to the local communities,” he said.“Ayodhya, where Yogi inspected the plantation drive along the Saryu river and Amrit Sarovars, would emerge as a role model for the state’s ‘green economy’. The process of linking ongoing environmental efforts to the international carbon credit market will begin soon,” he said.The initiative is crucial not only for conserving Uttar Pradesh’s environment but also for energising rural economy. Carbon absorption and credit trading can become a new formula for environmental prosperity in the state. Certificates were awarded to Anita Yadav and Sheela Devi for Vedic forest and to Shailja Pandey, Shanti Devi and Rakesh Kumar for the revival of Tilodaki Ganga river.Mamta Pal, a farmer from Rampur had set a benchmark by planting 3,600 saplings trees in her fields. She was honoured with a reward of Rs 10,000 by the CM during the plantation drive.Similarly, Raman Singh from Saharanpur had planted 2,800 trees in his village in Saharanpur. “I take inspiration from CM Yogi who is actively pursuing the mission to increase the green cover,” he said after being honoured. Shiv Kumar from a village in Meerut, who had planted 3,800 trees, also received a token of appreciation.
