Honorable Legislative Assembly Chairperson Mr. Rabindra Nath Mahato and Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren participated in the "77th Statewide Forest Festival, 2026" organized at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly premises.

Honorable Legislative Assembly Chairperson Mr. Rabindra Nath Mahato and Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren participated in the 77th Statewide Forest Festival, 2026 organized at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly premises. The Chairman and the Chief Minister planted saplings and delivered a message of environmental protection. ★ Conservation of nature and environment is a collective responsibility ★ Create better work plans by capturing water and storing it in the earth ★ Water, forest, hills, rivers and abundant natural resources define Jharkhand ★ Raising awareness in society about environmental protection and enrichment is essential Hemant Soren, Chief Minister, Jharkhand. Honorable Legislative Assembly Chairman Mr. Rabindra Nath Mahato and Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren attended today the "77th Statewide Forest Festival, 2026" held at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly premises. On this occasion, both the Chairman and the Chief Minister planted saplings and conveyed a message of environmental protection. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said Jharkhand’s identity lies in its water, forests, hills, rivers and rich natural resources. Forests and nature are an integral part of the local livelihood and culture, therefore environmental protection is not only the government’s responsibility but also a duty of every individual in society. He added that festivals like the forest festival remind us of our responsibilities towards nature. We must not limit ourselves to planting trees, but also commit to caring for and conserving them. He emphasized that concrete steps toward environmental protection are essential for the safe and healthy future of coming generations. He noted that the state government is continuously working on forest conservation, expanding green areas, water conservation and strengthening ecological balance. Balancing development and environment while preserving Jharkhand’s natural heritage is a government priority. Legislator Ms. Kalpana Soren was also present. Raising awareness in society about environmental protection and enrichment is extremely necessary. Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that everyone should contribute to environmental protection. Along with planting, there should be a festival for its preservation. Planting alone is insufficient; equal enthusiasm for their conservation and enrichment is required. He stated that the forest festival has resulted in numerous green trees appearing across the Jharkhand Assembly premises, its surroundings and the whole state. The earth is becoming greener. He appealed to the public to play an active role in creating a greener planet by planting trees. He believes such programmes are vital for raising societal awareness about environmental protection and enrichment. If we individually join this campaign, protecting this vast land and its biodiversity will become easier. Regarding the need for vigilant and active work for environmental protection, the Chief Minister observed that development activities often harm the environment, creating imbalance that affects all human life and all living beings. All creatures, from humans to animals and birds, suffer adverse effects. Therefore, immediate restitution of this damage is required. He noted that while large forums discuss environmental issues, compensating for damage remains difficult. Citing a news report about an ancient Italian volcano reactivating, he highlighted that environmental degradation is not limited to tree cutting nor can it be fully offset by planting. The turmoil in nature must be compensated at every level, otherwise the future will be challenging for humanity. We cut trees, exploit mineral resources, over-extract groundwater, and build dams that block river flows. This exploitation of nature is continuously increasing. Population growth in the country and state puts pressure on natural resources, leading to predictable adverse consequences. Hence, immediate vigilant and proactive action is essential. He urged water capture and storage in the earth. The Chief Minister warned that the world, especially India, may face a severe water crisis. It is crucial to sensitize towns of all sizes to environmental concerns and raise public awareness. Jharkhand, a rich and green state with forests, mountains, rivers and abundant mineral wealth, relies on these for livelihood. A balanced interaction with nature is needed so that the land can sustain future generations. We live today, not tomorrow, and must ensure future generations do not suffer this destruction. More planting and rainwater harvesting should be done. The Chief Minister advised that the department should go beyond planting, include fertilising, proper care and scheduled campaigns for saplings. He instructed departmental officials to plant fruit-bearing trees in legislators’ residential complexes, providing saplings to all legislators to bring greenery to the earth. In the programme, Chairman of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Mr. Rabindra Nath Mahato highlighted the objectives of the Statewide Forest Festival and the importance of natural and environmental protection. The chief forest guardian Mr. Sanjeev Kumar welcomed the event. During the programme, the Chief Minister planted saplings in the Assembly premises and called for planting more trees and committing to their protection. He said each tree planted today is a gift of life, clean air and a safe environment for future generations. Present at the event were Ministers Mr. Radha Krishna Kishor, Mr. Hafizul Hasan, Mr. Irfan Ansari, Mrs. Shilpi Neha Tirki, legislators, senior forest department officials and distinguished guests.