India, July 3 -- The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration on Wednesday organised "Van Mahotsav" (forest festival) at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida to promote a spirit of environmental conservation through plantation.

The initiative, jointly inaugurated by state and district officials under the ambitious 'Green Mission 2025', witnessed the launch of a plantation drive.

The programme is part of Uttar Pradesh (UP) government's endeavour to plant 931,520 saplings across the district this year, and the plantation will continue throughout this Monsoon season, said officials.

UP's minister of state for environment, forest and climate change KP Malik, the chief guest at the event, planted a "rudraksha" sapling on the occasion.

"Prote...