Bhubaneswar, July 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said that, guided by the vision of harmony between development and environmental conservation, Odisha has emerged as a leading state in the country in forest conservation and the creation of green cover.

In his address during the State-Level Van Mahotsav event here, CM Majhi said, “Extensive plantation is the only long-term solution to tackling global climate change and increasingly severe heatwaves. Development and environmental conservation are not contradictory; rather, they complement each other. Guided by this vision, Odisha has emerged as one of the leading states in the country in forest conservation and the creation of green cover.”

He further added that over the past two years, the state has recorded an increase of 558 square kms in forest and tree cover, enabling Odisha to secure the third position in India. The Chief Minister said that under the ‘Sabuja Mahanadi Mission’, a 1.5-km-wide green belt is being developed along the banks of the Mahanadi, Tel, Ib, Brahmani, Rushikulya, Baitarani and Vansadhara rivers to ensure their perennial flow.

During the 2025-26 financial year, 5.65 lakh saplings were planted over 774 hectares, while a target has been set to plant nearly 9 lakh saplings across 2,702 hectares in 2026-27. Under the ‘Expanded Green Belt Scheme’, 15.93 lakh saplings will be planted over 358 hectares during the current year.

To reduce pollution in urban areas, nearly 6.95 lakh saplings are planned to be planted this year. Under the ‘Ama Jangal Yojana’, 19,975 hectares of degraded forests have been restored, and 43.18 lakh local beneficiaries have been covered under livelihood-based programmes worth Rs 1,488.52 crore.

Highlighting other major initiatives, the Chief Minister said that under the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) scheme, a target has been fixed to undertake plantation over more than 20,562 hectares of forest land during the next year. He said that 1,210 Forest Protection Committees are included in the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project-II (OFSDP-II), implemented with the assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

For the protection of coastal areas, mangrove plantations are being developed over 89 hectares under the Central Government’s MISHTI scheme, while 2,405 hectares of saline forests are being restored under the ECRICC project.

In addition, 17.90 lakh palm saplings were planted during the last financial year as a measure to reduce the impact of lightning strikes. From July 1 this year, the new ‘Viksit Bharat – Rozgar Guarantee and Livelihood Mission (Rural)’ has been launched jointly by the Centre and the State Government to generate employment alongside plantation activities. Majhi appreciated the people of Odisha for turning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign into a mass movement.

He said the Union government has set a target of planting 3.76 crore saplings in the state this year. Reiterating that development and environmental protection are complementary rather than conflicting, the Chief Minister urged voluntary organisations and environmentalists to ensure strict adherence to government environmental regulations.

He also appealed to all citizens to plant more trees and contribute towards building a healthy, green and beautiful Odisha.

–IANS

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