THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 7, 2026

Reaffirming Odisha's commitment to balancing rapid development with environmental sustainability, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said the state has emerged as one of India's leading performers in forest conservation and green cover expansion, driven by an integrated approach that treats ecological protection as a key pillar of development.

Addressing the State-Level Van Mahotsav celebrations in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister said large-scale plantation remains the most effective long-term strategy to combat climate change, rising temperatures and increasingly severe heatwaves. He stressed that economic development and environmental conservation are not opposing goals but complementary priorities essential for sustainable growth.

"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," Majhi said.

Highlighting the state's achievements, the Chief Minister said Odisha has recorded an increase of 558 square kilometres in forest and tree cover over the past two years, enabling it to secure the third position nationally in green cover expansion.

He said the government is implementing several large-scale ecological restoration initiatives, including the ambitious Sabuja Mahanadi Mission, under which a 1.5-km-wide green belt is being developed along the banks of major rivers including the Mahanadi, Tel, Ib, Brahmani, Rushikulya, Baitarani and Vansadhara. The initiative aims to improve river ecology and ensure the perennial flow of these important water bodies.

The Chief Minister said Odisha has significantly scaled up its plantation programme. During the 2025-26 financial year, the state planted 5.65 lakh saplings across 774 hectares, while the target for 2026-27 has been increased to nearly 9 lakh saplings covering 2,702 hectares. Additionally, under the Expanded Green Belt Scheme, 15.93 lakh saplings will be planted over 358 hectares during the current financial year.

To improve urban environmental quality and reduce pollution, the government has planned to plant nearly 6.95 lakh saplings across urban areas this year, further strengthening the state's climate resilience initiatives.

Majhi also highlighted the success of the Ama Jangal Yojana, under which 19,975 hectares of degraded forests have been restored. The programme has benefited 43.18 lakh local people through livelihood-based interventions worth Rs 1,488.52 crore, demonstrating the government's focus on combining ecological restoration with rural economic development.

The Chief Minister said that under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme, the state has set a target to undertake plantations over more than 20,562 hectares of forest land during the next year. He also noted that 1,210 Forest Protection Committees are participating in the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project-II (OFSDP-II), which is being implemented with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

For strengthening coastal ecosystems, 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 to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable coastal regions.

The Chief Minister further said that 17.90 lakh palm saplings were planted during the last financial year to help reduce the impact of lightning strikes, a recurring natural hazard in the state.

He also announced that the newly launched Viksit Bharat – Rozgar Guarantee and Livelihood Mission (Rural), introduced jointly by the Centre and the State Government from July 1, will generate employment opportunities while supporting plantation and afforestation activities across Odisha.

Majhi appreciated the people of the state for transforming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign into a people's movement. He said the Union Government has set a target of planting 3.76 crore saplings in Odisha during the current year.

Reiterating that environmental protection and economic progress must go hand in hand, the Chief Minister urged voluntary organisations, environmentalists and citizens to ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations while actively participating in plantation drives.

Calling upon every resident of the state to contribute to the green movement, Majhi appealed to citizens to plant more trees and work collectively towards building a healthier, greener and more environmentally sustainable Odisha.