Lucknow, July 6 -- Uttar Pradesh will plant 37 crore saplings in a single day on July 9 (Wednesday) under the Paudhropan Mahabhiyan-2025. As part of this massive drive, special green zones called 'Gopal Van' will be established in all cow shelters across the state, the government announced on Saturday. These green zones will feature shady and fodder-rich plant species aimed at promoting cattle welfare, according to a press statement issued by the state government. In a state where planting even five crore saplings was once considered ambitious, the Yogi Adityanath government has prepared 52.43 crore saplings under the current campaign. Of these, 37 crore will be planted in a single-day statewide initiative, the statement said. Since 2017, a total of 204.92 crore saplings have been planted in Uttar Pradesh, making it the second-ranked state in India in terms of expanding green cover. Currently, there are 7,608 operational cow shelters in the state, including 6,613 temporary shelters in rural areas, 387 large cow conservation centres, 305 Kanji houses and 303 Kanha Gau Ashray Sthals in urban areas. The government plans to establish a Gopal Van at each of these locations. Plantation activities will continue throughout the year, with a strong emphasis on protecting and maintaining the saplings. The government has also urged private cowherds to take part in the campaign. To ensure adequate shade and fodder for animals in shelters, forest divisions have been directed to plant suitable tree species based on local conditions and space availability. Robust arrangements will be made for the protection and sustainability of every Gopal Van. This initiative has garnered strong support from the saint community and private cowherds, who have pledged to participate actively in the plantation drives across both public and private shelters....