Rajasthan Government to Bring Law in Assembly to Protect State Tree Khejri
Gopendra Nath Bhatt
Amid growing public concern and a sustained people’s movement over the damage being caused to Rajasthan’s state tree, Khejri, due to the rapid expansion of solar energy projects in western Rajasthan, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly that the state government will introduce a special bill to ensure the protection of the Khejri tree.
Replying to the debate on the Governor’s address in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that Khejri is not merely a tree, but Rajasthan’s Kalpavriksha and a symbol of the state’s identity, which has played a vital role in checking desertification over centuries. He emphasized that the state government is committed to balancing development with the preservation of heritage.
“We will bring a law in the Assembly to protect Khejri so that this revered state tree remains safeguarded across Rajasthan,” Sharma said. Inspired by the Prime Minister’s campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, the Chief Minister noted that the state has launched a massive plantation drive, under which 200 million saplings have been planted in just two years. The government has set a target of planting over 500 million trees across the state in five years.
The Chief Minister said his government is sensitive to public sentiment regarding the Khejri tree and has also held discussions with delegations of saints from Bikaner on the issue. Considering the historical and cultural significance of the tree and public emotions attached to it, the government is preparing the draft of a bill, which will be introduced and passed in the Assembly to give it legal force. The announcement was welcomed with desk-thumping applause by members from the ruling party, opposition, and independents.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Vasudev Devnani invited Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully to speak on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, followed by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s reply as Leader of the House. The Speaker later passed the motion by voice vote and adjourned the House till 11 a.m. on February 11. Devnani conducted the proceedings in a disciplined manner, strictly preventing interruptions during speeches and repeatedly clarifying procedural arrangements from the Chair.
Responding sharply to allegations made by the Leader of Opposition, the Chief Minister adopted an aggressive tone and, for the first time, tabled a document outlining his government’s achievements over the past two years. Accepting the opposition’s challenge, he claimed that his government has accomplished more in two years than the previous Congress government did in over five years. He also proposed a special discussion on this comparison in the Assembly, for which the Speaker assured scheduling through the Business Advisory Committee.
In his detailed address, the Chief Minister presented comparative data on work done in roads, power, water, agriculture, women and youth welfare, and other sectors. He said the state economy has not only been stabilized but also given momentum and direction. He informed the House that the revenue deficit has been reduced by ₹8,000 crore in two years. The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he added, has praised Rajasthan’s financial management in the 2025–26 Economic Survey, highlighting innovations in social and health sectors, best practices, and administrative reforms.
Sharma stated that Rajasthan has ranked first nationally in 11 welfare schemes, second in five national schemes, and third in nine national programs, while also earning the status of Best Performer State in two key areas. Under the double-engine government, Rajasthan has received over ₹19,000 crore in capital investment assistance from the Centre. The state will receive ₹90,445 crore this financial year as its share of central taxes—₹6,505 crore more than last year.
Highlighting water as a top priority, the Chief Minister spoke about the Ramjal Setu Link Project, Yamuna water agreement, and the Devas project. He said the DPR for the Yamuna water agreement is in its final stage. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the foundation stone of the Mahi-Banswara nuclear power plant and for pursuing trade deals with the European Union and the United States, which will benefit Rajasthan’s jewellery, handicrafts, and stone industries.
He noted that water storage has begun at Navnera Barrage and Isarda Dam under the revised ERCP–PKC Ramjal Setu Project, while consent letters worth ₹14,676 crore have been issued for Bandh Baretha (Bharatpur) and Brahmani Barrage (Chittorgarh). Projects worth ₹26,000 crore are already underway. For Bikaner, ₹1,717 crore has been allocated for modernization of the Gang Canal system, while works worth ₹4,731 crore have begun for the Indira Gandhi Canal.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, over 1.4 million rural households have received tap water connections. The Farmer Samman Nidhi has been increased by 1.5 times in two years, and over 200,000 new agricultural electricity connections have been released.
The Chief Minister said 34 new policies have been introduced, marking the beginning of a new industrial era in Rajasthan. The Rising Rajasthan Investment Summit was organized in the government’s first year, leading to MoUs worth ₹35 lakh crore, of which investments exceeding ₹8 lakh crore have already materialized. He expressed confidence that Rajasthan will emerge as a leading state in the next three years, with special focus on youth, farmers, and women. As per the BJP’s election manifesto, the government will present an annual report card of its policy decisions and development work to the public.
The Chief Minister also referred to the abundant rainfall this year, saying that rivers like the Luni have seen water flow after 35 years. He added that good winter rainfall (Mavath) is a positive sign for crops.
After delivering a continuous one-and-a-half-hour address covering governance, employment, farmer welfare, law and order, and anti-corruption measures, attention now turns to February 11, when Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari will present the 2026–27 state budget. All eyes will be on what new announcements and benefits her tablet will unveil for the people of Rajasthan.
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