Lucknow, May 21 (Reporter) As part of its ambitious Plantation Mahabhiyan-2025, the Uttar Pradesh government will plant 4.12 crore saplings within a five-kilometre radius of major rivers across the state, official sources said here on Wednesday. Sources said that the initiative seeks to enhance the state's green cover and support ecological balance. "Building on last year's achievement, during which 3.72 crore saplings were planted at 2,656 sites along riverbanks, the campaign will see plantation activities spanning 24,271.66 hectares near 13 major rivers, including Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Rapti, Chambal, Chhoti Gandak, Hindon and Gomti. Among these, the highest number of saplings will be planted along the Yamuna river districts," they said. Mission Director of Plantation Mahabhiyan Deepak Kumar said that over 1.09 crore saplings will be planted along the Yamuna, around 77 lakh along the Ganga, 53 lakh along the Betwa, 39.35 lakh along the Saryu, 34.25 lakh along the Sai and 33.56 lakh along the Gomti riverbanks. He said that in a symbolic gesture commemorating the upcoming Mahabhiyan, the government will also plant Triveni saplings, a sacred trio of Neem, Peepal and Pakad, along riverbanks. "To facilitate this campaign, areas within a 5-kilometre radius of the 13 major rivers, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Rapti, Saryu, Sone and Chambal are identified and marked for afforestation," he said...////...