Kumar said JD(U), of which he is the president, has made it mandatory for anyone wanting to join the party to plant a sapling and photograph the same

On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tied a rakhi to a tree at Eco Park here on Thursday to create awareness about environment among people.

Kumar, who had launched Hariyali Mission in 2011 to increase green coverage, said that since the launch of the mission, Bihar had set a target to increase its green cover to 17 per cent from 9 per cent at that time.

“Two years ago reports said Bihar had increased its green cover to 13 per cent and I hope we must have either achieved it or are near the target by now,” he claimed.

Kumar said his government has taken the task of increasing green cover in the state very seriously and as a part of this, JD(U), of which he is the president, has made it mandatory for anyone wanting to join the party to plant a sapling and photograph the same.

State cooperative Minister Alok Mehta, deputy leader in the assembly Shyam Rajak and Principal Secretary to Forest and Environment department Vivek Kumar Singh were present at the programme.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad too tied a rakhi to a tree on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. He was photographed tying rakhi to a tree at the 10 Circular road residence of his wife Rabri Devi to promote the cause of environment.