Bhubaneswar: In order to enhance water availability and to improve livelihood, the River Mahanadi needs to be protected and conserved for ensuring its perennial flow for the benefit of the people of the state. In view of this, the State Government so far released over Rs 168.30 crore under Green Mahanadi Mission(GMM).
The Mission was launched during 2018-19 with an aim to create a green belt in 1 km width on both sides of the river Mahanadi, Tel and IB on all available and suitable forest land, revenue forest land, District Level Committee(DLC) area and private land through massive participation of peoples’ representatives and all stakeholders.
Preparatory activities of the Mission, like identification of villages, selection of plantation sites, nursery sites, identification of Mahanadi Sevaks, mass motivation were taken up during 2017-18 in 16 districts covering 1303 villages under the jurisdiction of 20 forest and wildlife divisions.
The scheme is being implemented with the funding sources under the State Plan. The scheme has been approved in the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) meeting from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and their maintenance up to 2025-26, the source said.
During 2018-19, the State Government has provided Rs.59.48 crore under the scheme. Plantations over an area of 912.25 hectare of AR (Artificial Regeneration), 50 hectare of Casuarina, 40 hectare of Bald Hill, 4196-hectare ANR (Aided Natural Regeneration) with gap, 101 hectare of Bamboo, 562 Route Kilometer (RKM) of Avenue Plantation with planting of 5.742 lakh saplings under the scheme of Urban Tree Plantation (UTP) and distribution of 10.80 lakh saplings have been successfully achieved under the mission during 2018-19.
The scheme was implemented during the Phase II in 2019-20 with inclusion of four more rivers namely Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya and Vanshadhara and left-over area of Mahanadi, Tel and IB at a total budget provision of Rs.51 crore.
During this year, plantations over a total area of 1035 hectare AR, 75 hectare Casuarina, 203 hectare Bald Hill, 4203 hectare ANR with Gap, 171 hectare Bamboo, 116 RKM Avenue with planting of 33.94 seedlings including 2.31 lakh seedlings under Urban Tree Plantation and distribution of 49.76 lakh seedlings have been successfully achieved along with maintenance of previous year’s plantations of 5299.55 hectare of different components under the mission.
Similarly, Rs.31 crore have been provided under the program in 2020-21. Plantations over an area of 190 hectare of AR, 60 hectare of Casuarina, 700 hectares ANR with Gap with planting, 0.165 lakh saplings under the scheme of UTP and distribution of 23.34 lakh seedlings done under the mission during the year. Only maintenance work has been taken up during 2021-22.
In 2022-23, 576 hectare of AR, 424 hectare of Bald Hill, 3000 hectare of ANR plantation, 2.89 lakh saplings under urban tree plantation have been taken up and 5.48 lakh seedlings have been distributed among the public with a cost of Rs. 26.82 crore.
Besides, there is a proposal of taking up 120 hectares AR plantation, 74 hectare casuarina plantation, 100 hectare Bald Hill plantation, 1000 hectare ANR with Gap plantation and 50 lakh seedlings for distribution during the financial year 2023-24.
GMM committees have been constituted at the Block, District and State level for monitoring and reviewing the GMM activities undertaken by different line departments for successful implementation of the mission in the State.
