Hemant Soren calls for water conservation, groundwater recharge at Jharkhand Van Mahotsav
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, August 11: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday called for a stronger collective effort to protect…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, August 11: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday called for a stronger collective effort to protect the state’s forests, rivers, hills and other natural resources, stressing that environmental conservation cannot be left to the government alone.
Soren was speaking at the 77th State-wide Van Mahotsav 2026, organised at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly premises, where he and Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto planted saplings and appealed to people to make tree conservation and water management part of their everyday responsibilities.
The event was attended by MLA Kalpana Soren, ministers Radha Krishna Kishore, Hafizul Hasan, Irfan Ansari and Shilpi Neha Tirkey, besides MLAs, senior Forest Department officials and other dignitaries.
Soren: Jharkhand’s identity rooted in forests, rivers and hills
Addressing the gathering, Soren said Jharkhand’s identity and way of life are closely linked to its forests, hills, rivers, water resources and mineral wealth.
He said nature and forests are deeply connected with the state’s social and cultural life and, therefore, protecting them should be viewed as a shared responsibility of society rather than merely a government function.
The Chief Minister said Van Mahotsav should not remain limited to ceremonial plantation drives. He urged people and government agencies to take equal responsibility for nurturing, protecting and ensuring the survival of every sapling planted.
“A tree planted today is a gift of life, clean air and a safer environment to future generations,” Soren said while calling for wider public participation in the campaign.
‘Planting saplings is not enough’
Soren stressed that the success of plantation programmes should be measured by the survival and growth of trees rather than simply by the number of saplings planted.
He directed the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department to undertake dedicated campaigns for the regular care of newly planted saplings, including timely application of fertilisers, watering and other measures needed for their healthy growth.
He also called for greater public awareness about environmental protection, saying collective participation would make efforts to expand green cover and protect biodiversity more effective.
CM stresses rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge
Water conservation emerged as a key theme of Soren’s address.
The Chief Minister warned that water scarcity could become one of the major challenges facing India and the world in the coming years. He called for systematic rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge measures across urban and rural areas.
Soren said Jharkhand, despite its abundant forests, rivers and natural resources, needs to adopt a more balanced approach towards their use so that future generations are not deprived of them.
He urged government departments to formulate stronger action plans for harvesting rainwater and replenishing groundwater reserves.
Development must not come at cost of environment
Soren also cautioned against unchecked exploitation of natural resources in the name of development.
He pointed to activities such as deforestation, excessive extraction of minerals and groundwater and interventions that alter natural river flows as factors that can contribute to ecological imbalance.
According to the Chief Minister, environmental degradation affects not only human beings but also animals, birds and other forms of life. He said the scale of ecological challenges requires action beyond conferences and seminars, with governments and citizens adopting concrete measures on the ground.
Soren also referred to reports of environmental and geological changes around the world, arguing that such developments should serve as a warning about the consequences of sustained pressure on natural systems.
With population and demand for resources continuing to rise, he said the state needs to exercise greater caution in balancing development with ecological protection.
Soren also directed the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department to facilitate the plantation of fruit-bearing trees at the residential premises of MLAs.
He asked the department to provide suitable fruit-bearing saplings to legislators and encourage their plantation, adding that such initiatives could help expand greenery while creating greater awareness among elected representatives and the public.
Speaker highlights importance of Van Mahotsav
Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto also addressed the gathering and spoke about the objectives of the state-wide Van Mahotsav and the importance of protecting nature and the environment.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjeev Kumar delivered the welcome address.
During the programme, Soren planted a sapling inside the Assembly complex and appealed to citizens to plant trees and make a commitment to protect them.
He said environmental conservation requires sustained action rather than one-day campaigns and urged people to ensure that the saplings planted during Van Mahotsav survive and grow.
The event at the Assembly premises also reinforced the state government’s emphasis on expanding green cover, conserving water resources and maintaining ecological balance while pursuing development.
