Odisha Govt To Take Up Plantation Alongside Major Rivers

Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal of the Odisha government to take up plantation alongside major rivers.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here this evening, Chief Secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi, said the main objective of the scheme is to rejuvenate the rivers Mahanadi, Tel and Ib. A green cover belt will be created within one km from the river bank on
both sides of these rivers during 2018-19.

Besides, plantation work will be taken up along both sides of Baitarani, Brahmani, Rushikulya and their tributaries and distributaries during 2019-20. The leftover areas of Mahanadi, Tel and Ib will also be taken up during 2019-20, he added.

The total outlay of the scheme proposed to be implemented in five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) has been estimated at Rs 448 crore of which Rs 415 is earmarked for plantation activities and Rs 33 crore for non-plantation activities.

Padhi further said that at the state level, the progress of the implementation of Green Mahanadi Mission (GMM) will be monitored by a 12-member committee headed by the chief secretary while regular monitoring on monthly, quarterly and yearly basis will be taken up at the level of the Block Green Mahanadi Mission Committee, District Green Mahanadi Mission Committee and State Green Mahanadi Mission Committee.