LUCKNOW, July 2 -- Kukrail, the lungs of the city, now also has an open gym and a yoga point. The facilities were inaugurated on Tuesday, when the week-long Van Mahotsav began with a plantation drive at Triveni Van in the Kukrail forest area.

Forest minister Arun K Saxena, head of forest force Sunil Chaudhary, principal Secretary (forest) Anil Kumar, plantation drive nodal officer Deepak Kumar, Lucknow zoo director Aditi Sharma and other senior officials of the forest department planted saplings. Triveni van will have a majority of peepal, bargad and neem trees.

Also, a scheme wherein parents of newborns are gifted plant saplings was launched. The event was held at Avantibai (women's) hospital. Chief forest conservator Renu Singh and di...