Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav lauded the efforts of the 128 Infantry Battalion and the Ecological Task Force of the Territorial Army for setting a world record by planting over 5 lakh saplings in just one hour. The record-breaking plantation drive took place on 22 September in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as part of a “Special Plantation Drive” under the Prime Minister’s campaign, Ek Ped Maa ke Naam, and the Territorial Army’s initiative Bhagidari & Zimmedari.
The event was a collaborative effort, bringing together several key stakeholders, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, the District Administration of Jaisalmer, the Police, and the Border Wing Home Guards. Additionally, NGO Sankalp Taru and students from various educational institutions joined in the plantation drive. The saplings were planted at seven different locations across Jaisalmer, reflecting a united community approach toward environmental conservation and development.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav expressed his appreciation on X (formerly Twitter), congratulating the Territorial Army’s 128 Infantry Battalion and its Ecological Task Force. He noted the planting of over 5,19,130 saplings within one hour, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, as a significant achievement, aimed at promoting environmental awareness and restoration among local communities.
Under the theme Protect Trees and the motto Those who protect the trees are protected, the Territorial Army unit not only achieved the record for the most saplings planted in one hour but also set two additional world records: the most saplings planted by a team of women in one hour and the largest number of people planting saplings simultaneously at a single venue. The accomplishment was provisionally recognized by the World Book of Records, London, with representatives present on-site to verify and certify the achievement.
The Ecological Task Force was awarded a provisional certificate of recognition from the World Book of Records for this extraordinary feat, marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts toward ecological restoration and environmental conservation.
