Lucknow Monthly Green Chaupals to Boost Village Plantation Efforts
Lucknow government has mandated the launch of monthly ‘green chaupals’ or community gatherings in villages, aimed at significantly boosting plantation efforts and environmental conservation at the grassroots level. These crucial meetings are slated to be held on the third Friday of every month in every gram panchayat across the state. Should this designated day fall on a state holiday, the chaupal will be convened on the next immediate working day. This pioneering initiative marks the first time such green forums are being constituted by the government, beginning at the village level before potentially extending to urban local bodies.
The primary objectives behind these green chaupals are multi-faceted. They include sensitizing local populations about the critical importance of environmental conservation, with a broader vision of transforming every village into a green village. Furthermore, the chaupals will actively promote large-scale tree plantation drives, encourage sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting, and advocate for the adoption of organic farming techniques. The initiative also seeks to increase the use of solar power and foster an environmentally sustainable way of life among rural communities, integrating ecological practices into daily routines.
Looking ahead, the government is exploring the possibility of integrating these grassroots environmental efforts with carbon credit mechanisms. Under this potential future framework, villages that successfully establish significant plantations on their gram sabha land could become eligible to receive a “green fund.” This fund would be allocated based on the assessed carbon credits generated by their tree-planting initiatives, with the funds then directly utilized for further environmental causes within the community, creating a self-sustaining model for ecological development.
Moreover, these monthly chaupals will serve as vital platforms to bring any problems related to the implementation of environment-related schemes to the direct attention of concerned officers, ensuring prompt resolution. Publicity material on various environmental schemes will also be regularly distributed during these gatherings, keeping villagers informed and engaged. Each green chaupal will be headed by the gram Pradhan and will comprise 12 members, including representatives from the forest department, gram panchayat, self-help groups, and local government officers, fostering a collaborative approach.
Divisional forest officers will play a key role in coordinating the smooth functioning of these chaupals, and their performance will be rigorously reviewed monthly by CDOs and district plantation committees. This structured approach aims to ensure the effectiveness and sustained impact of the initiative in promoting green practices across Lucknow’s rural landscape.
