Shimla, Aug. 14 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday inaugurated the 76th State-Level Van-Mahotsav in Shimla.

He also planted a deodar sapling during the event.

The Chief Minister launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojna across all Assembly constituencies and virtually interacted with Ministers and MLAs participating in the programme, and discussed forest conservation and afforestation measures in detail.

Addressing the gathering on this occasion, he said that Van Mahotsav highlighted the importance of forests, often called the Earth's lifeline.

"This year, around 9000 hectares of forest land would be planted with trees under different schemes, and 60 per cent of these saplings would bear ...