Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Tuesday that the state government has set a target to plant 6.95 lakh saplings across various urban centres to mitigate air pollution and buffer against the intensifying effects of climate change.
Speaking at the state-level celebrations marking the 77th Van Mahotsav in the capital city Bhubaneswar, Majhi emphasised that aggressive, widespread afforestation remains the single most viable long-term strategy for countering global warming and severe heatwaves.
“Considering development and environment equally important, Odisha has established itself as a leading state in the country in forest protection and creation of green cover,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the state’s total green area expanded by 558 square kilometres over the last two years, propelling Odisha to the third spot in national rankings for forest expansion.
୭୭ତମ ବନମହୋତ୍ସବ ସପ୍ତାହ ପାଳନର ଉଦ୍ଯାପନୀ ଅବସରରେ କପିଳେଶ୍ଵର ସରକାରୀ ଉଚ୍ଚ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ପ୍ରାଙ୍ଗଣରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଯୋଗଦେଇ ବନମହୋତ୍ସବର ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କଲି। ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ଆଦରଣୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରେରିତ ‘ଏକ ପେଡ୍ ମା କେ ନାମ’ ଅଭିଯାନ ଅଧୀନରେ… pic.twitter.com/tIXV4iZdoC
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 7, 2026
Under the ongoing Green Mahanadi Mission, a massive 1.5-kilometer-wide eco-corridor is being developed along the banks of seven major rivers, including the Mahanadi, Tel, Ib, Brahmani, Rushikulya, Baitarani, and Vansadhara, to safeguard perennial river flows and ensure long-term ecological balance, he explained.
During 2025-26, roughly 5.65 lakh saplings were planted across 774 hectares, while the benchmark for the current 2026-27 phase has been scaled up significantly to plant nearly 9 lakh saplings across 2,702 hectares, Majhi stated.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister stated that approximately 15.93 lakh saplings are scheduled to be planted across a 358-hectare footprint this year under the banner of the ‘Increased Green Cover’ initiative.
Under the state’s ‘Ama Jungle Yojana’ scheme, around 19,975 hectares of deforested forest have been successfully rejuvenated, while 43.18 lakh local community members have been integrated into livelihood-linked programs valued at Rs 1,488.52 crore, Majhi said.
Looking ahead, the Chief Minister noted that the state has locked in a target to afforest more than 20,562 hectares of forest next year utilizing funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) framework.
He added that 17.90 lakh palm saplings were strategically planted over the previous financial year as a natural protective barrier to shield rural citizens from fatal lightning strikes.
Majhi commended the citizens of Odisha for scaling up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative into a true mass movement, highlighting the record-setting plantation of 1.49 crore saplings on a single day to mark the PM’s birthday last year.
Observing that the Union Government has mandated a total target of 3.76 crore saplings for the state over the coming year, he urged voluntary organisations, environmentalists, and people to plant trees in large numbers and create a healthy and green Odisha.
Forests, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, who was present at the event, stressed public participation in afforestation.
