Dehradun: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday kicked off his government's ambitious river revival campaign on Monday with the Kosi in Almora district with a record over 1.5 lakh saplings being planted along the banks of the river. Launching the campaign from Rudradhari on the occassion of Harela, a festival that symbolises happiness, prosperity and greenery, Rawat said a drive during which a record 1,67,755 saplings are being planted cannot achieve its objective without the wholehearted public participation.

Similarly, a target of planting 2.50 lakh trees along the Rispana river in Dehradun has been set for July 22, Rawat said.

With the programme being initiated from near the famous tourist destination of Kausani, Rawat said it will help in spreading the message of the campaign across the world. Rawar asked people to carefully protect the saplings. Later, in a program organised in Bal Vidya Mandir, the chief minister said water conservation was one of his government's top priorities.

Rawat also urged villagers to avail maximum benefit of the public welfare schemes being run by the government. He said the state government will cover all 27 lakh families of the state under the 'Ayushman Bharat - Ayushman Uttarakhand' scheme.