LUCKNOW, July 4 -- Uttar Pradesh will now plant 37 crore saplings in the ongoing Van Mahotsav from July 1 to 7 against 35 crore that the state had been planting for the past two years.

"Yes we have increased our target this year. We will plant over 37 crore saplings," said state forest and environment minister Arun K Saxena who chaired a review meeting with officials of the forest and other departments on Friday. The minister chaired the meeting with representatives of the voluntary groups along with head of forest force Sunil Chaudhary.

The 1901 nurseries already have stock of over 52 crore saplings. During the day, urban development minister AK Sharma gave instructions to officials of all the 762 urban local bodies for identification ...