Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Saturday launched the state government’s ambitious drive to plant 2.5 crore saplings in one week.
Parida started the mission by planting a sapling in the campus of Mission Shakti in Bhubaneswar. Speaking to the media on the sideline of the programme, Parida said she along with the officials of the department planted the saplings on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “Ek Ped Maa ki Naam” (one tree for mother).
“We have decided that the members of Mission Shakti and officials of Women and Child Welfare department and Tourism department will plant at least one sapling each. The members of Mission Shakti have been given a target to plant 2.5 crore saplings within a week under the mission,” she said.
“After the target is achieved, we will send the recorded document to the Prime Minister. We are planning to plant 4.5 crore saplings for 4.5 crore population of the state,” Parida said.
The deputy chief minister further said every Mission Shakti member will plant at least one sapling in her residential premises or roadside and take care of it like her mother. Agriculture, Horticulture and Forest departments have been roped in to supply fruit-bearing, flower, decorative and other trees, she added.