Lucknow, July 7 (Reporter) In a major initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to develop 'Mitra Van' under Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan along the borders of UP and the neighbouring country of Nepal, official sources said here on Sunday. Sources said that on the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Forest Department is coordinating with the neighbouring country and states to enhance greenery through the plantation of 35 crore saplings. Locations have been selected by 35 forest divisions for this purpose. Alongside planting saplings on UP's land at the borders, the Forest Department will also involve dignitaries from other states in this mega campaign. Following the date set by the CM (July 20), the Forest department is dedicated to ensuring the success of the Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyaan. Under this campaign, extensive tree plantation programs will be done in the border districts of UP. Robust preparations are being made in the 35 districts that border neighbouring states in this regard. Comprehensive tree plantation programs are being planned in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Etawah, Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Noida, Ghaziabad, Baghpat and Shamli. The department is engaged in developing the Yogi government's new initiative, 'Mitra Van.' For this, a Vriksharopan Maha Abhiyan will be conducted not only along the bordering states but also near the friendly nation of Nepal. In a recent programme, Yogi had expressed concern over a plantation near Nepal. In response, the Forest Department will develop 'Mitra Van' along the borders of districts adjoining Nepal, including Sonauli in Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, Bahraich, and Pilibhit. During the plantation, coordination will be established not only with representatives from UP but also with the neighbouring country to involve them in this programme. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, has also directed 35 forest divisions to select the place for setting up Mitra Van and mark the plant species for plantation to be done by the dignitaries of the neighbouring country Nepal and the border state. He further directed the coordination with Forest Department officials from the neighbouring country and state to obtain their opinions on species selection and ensure the availability of plants, and to provide this information to the command center at the forest headquarters. Along with 'Mitra Van,' instructions have been given to establish special forests like 'Shakti Van,' 'Yuva Van,' and 'Bal Van' in each district under the Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan 2024. Additional Chief Conservator of Forests PP Singh said that under the Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan-2024, 'Mitra Van' will be set up around all states bordering UP, including Bihar, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The department has completed all the preparations for this. On CM Yogi's instructions, saplings have been prepared in nurseries for the plantation of 35 crore trees. Instructions have been issued to the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) of the respective divisions to develop and enrich 'Mitra Van...////...