1 lakh saplings to be planted in city during 2017-18: Min

Bhubaneswar: With a broad view to enhance green cover, the state
government has set a target of planting 1 lakh saplings during
2017-18, said forest and environment minister Bijayshree Routray.

Narrating his department’s achievements marking completion of three
years of the BJD’s fourth term, the minister said, “A total of two
lakh saplings have been planted in and around Bhubaneswar by city
forest division during the last three years. For the development of
green cover of the Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, which acts as the
lungs of Bhubaneswar, around 1 lakh saplings have already been planted during the last four years. Further it is proposed to plant more 30,000 saplings in the sanctuary during 2017-18.”

Highlighting that survival of the saplings planted during the last
three years are found to be 84 per cent (2014-15), 89 per cent
(2015-16) and 94 per cent (2016-17), Routray stated, “Around 10.10
crore seedlings have been distributed to the beneficiaries and public institutions for free of cost during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Similarly, a total of 3.76 crore seedlings were distributed on minimum price of Rs 2 per seedling to the beneficiaries and free of cost to public institutions for creation of trees outside the forests. Moreover, the government has plans for distribution of 3.52 crore seedlings at a cost of Re 1 per seedling during 2017-18.”