Dehradun is gearing up for one of its biggest tree plantation drives as the district administration has set a target of planting 15.5 lakh saplings during the month-long Harela Festival, beginning July 16. The campaign is part of Uttarakhand's silver jubilee celebrations and aims to increase the city's green cover while promoting eco-tourism.
District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan has directed all government departments to identify plantation sites and prepare detailed action plans. Each department will appoint a nodal officer to ensure smooth implementation, with preparations such as pit digging, organic manure, tree guards and sapling transportation to be completed by July 10.
Around 50 per cent of the saplings will be fruit-bearing and fodder species. A dedicated Green Control Room will monitor the campaign, while the planted trees will be maintained for the next five years to ensure their survival.
Major institutions, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Survey of India, ONGC and ITBP, will also participate in the drive, making the Harela Festival 2026 a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable Dehradun.