LUCKNOW, June 6 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said people must remain vigilant against the land, forest and mining mafia and smugglers who harm nature and water resources.

He was addressing a symposium organised by the forest department on the World Environment Day even as the state marked the occasion with a massive plantation drive during which more than five crore (50 million) saplings were planted across Uttar Pradesh.

"We are planting five crore saplings today while the Uttar Pradesh government has planted 242 crore (2.42 billion) saplings over the last nine years as part of the Van Mahotsav initiative," Adityanath said.

He also said the world today is paying the price for neglecting the environment and stressed the ...