Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today announced a significant restructuring of state awards for outstanding contributions to forest resource development, wildlife conservation, and environmental protection.
The move, effective immediately, aims to further incentivize field workers and the public in these crucial areas. The announcement was made during the Banamahotsab week celebration at BM High School in Old Bhubaneswar, where the Chief Minister was the chief guest.
This year, the prestigious Chief Minister’s State Level Award for Forest Protection and Conservation was jointly bestowed upon the ‘Tulangpadar Ban Suraka Samiti’ of Kalahandi and the ‘Pahadpur Ban Suraka Samiti’ of Karanjia Forest Division. Both committees received a prize of Rs 4 lakh and a certificate in recognition of their exemplary efforts.
The Tulangpadar Ban Suraka Samiti successfully restored 50 hectares of degraded forest in Bazaargarh, preventing any wildfires in the last three years. Similarly, the Pahadpur Forest Protection Committee has diligently protected 159 hectares of the Budhipat forest for five years without a single wildfire incident and has also contributed to controlling human-elephant conflict.
In his address, Chief Minister Shri Majhi outlined the “Vision Odisha” program’s major goal of creating a “Green Odisha” by 2036. This includes generating 1 million green livelihoods through community-led forest enterprises and developing Odisha as a model for eco-tourism. Under the Green Odisha scheme, over 100 processing centers for shrubs, ferns, bamboo, and medicinal plants will be established to enhance tribal income, aiming to generate over Rs 5,000 crore.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives, Chief Minister Shri Majhi highlighted Odisha’s fourth-place national ranking in last year’s ‘Ek Peed Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, which saw 6.69 crore saplings planted. This year, the state targets planting 7.5 crore saplings under the ‘Ek Peed Maa Ke Naam-2.0’ campaign. Additionally, 18 lakh palm trees are slated for planting this year to protect against lightning, following 19 lakh planted last year. The state government has also launched the ‘Aam Similipal’ scheme, allocating Rs 50 crore for wildlife and plant conservation in Similipal National Park, alongside implementing an AI-based forest fire detection system.
Addressing human-wildlife conflict, the Chief Minister announced an increase in compassionate assistance, raising the amount for death due to wildlife conflict from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, with other compensation amounts also increased.
Forest and Environment Minister Shri Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia highlighted “Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam” as the theme of Van Mahotsav 2025, encouraging individuals to dedicate tree plantation efforts to their mothers. He emphasized forests’ multifaceted benefits, including climate regulation, water purification, biodiversity conservation, and providing livelihoods.
The event saw the presence of Babu Singh, MLA from Ekamra Bhubaneswar; Sulochana Das, Mayor of Bhubaneswar; and Satyabrat Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department. Principal Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Suresh Pant, delivered the welcome address, and BM High School Principal Sitakant Mohanty proposed the vote of thanks.