PRAYAGRAJ, May 9 -- As part of Uttar Pradesh's push to develop green belts and promote dense afforestation in urban areas, a massive tree plantation campaign will be launched in Prayagraj in the first week of July. Following targets issued by the state government, all departments concerned have begun preparations for the ambitious drive, district officials said.

Arvind Kumar, divisional forest officer and nodal officer for the campaign, said the district has a target of planting 7,137,747 saplings this year. He said targets have already been assigned to more than 24 government departments in the district.

Of the total target, the forest department will plant 24 lakh saplings, while the rural development department has been assigned 2,65...