LUCKNOW, July 13 -- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government's target of planting 35 crore saplings in a single day was a "corruption plantation" programme aimed at siphoning off public money rather than protecting the environment. Launching an attack on the Yogi Adityanath government, the former chief minister claimed the plantation drive was designed to facilitate corruption. "For the BJP, tree plantation is actually 'bhrashtaaropan' (corruption plantation). This is not about planting 35 crore trees but earning at least Rs.10 per sapling, totalling Rs.350 crore," he said. Yadav alleged that while the government announces ambitious plantation targets every year, most saplings exist only on paper, and those planted often dry up due to lack of maintenance. "The trees that are planted somewhere dry up without water. After the budget is distributed, the campaign ends, and the government forgets about both the trees and the environment," he said. "Air and water pollution are becoming serious. The government made false promises to clean the rivers. Funds meant for cleaning the Ganga and its tributaries were swallowed by corruption. The Yamuna remains severely polluted, and many other rivers are fighting for survival," he said. htc...