BJD leader Naveen Patnaik
Setting a target of planting 12 crore seedlings this monsoon season in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said as many as 35-lakh sapling will be planted on July 7.
Mr Patnaik said this while addressing the 65th Bana Mahotsav which was observed in the premises of Unit-9 Girls High School.
Around 6.5 crore saplings would be planted through different state and central schemes and 5.5 crore would be distributed to farmers free of cost for plantation in their own land, he said.
In its bid to make plantation drive popular, the state government has coined the slogan 'Each one plant one'.
The Government would involve different communities to protect and manage the forest resources. The Forest Conservation Samitis have taken the responsibility of guarding and protecting forests.
Stating that avenue plantation would be scaled up during 2014-15 along the PMGSY roads, canal embankments and railway lines, an official said it has been decided to take up massive plantation in village forest lands, bald hills and school premises.
The government has chalked out a plan to take up plantation in 11,300 hectares under the state plan, 5557 hectares under compensatory afforestation, 24100 hectares under MGNREGS, 2500 hectares under Odisha Bamboo Development Agency in forest area (National Bamboo Mission) in both forest and non-forest areas and 8910 hectares under National Afforestation Programmes.