Bhubaneswar: About 78,990 hectares would be afforestated by utilizing 3.78 crore seedlings including Urban Tree Plantation (UTP) of 4.61 lakh seedling & avenue plantation of 5000 RKM during this rainy season.
Besides, 6.42 crore seedlings will be distributed to the beneficiaries and institutions during 2023-24. Plantation of forest species along with medicinal plants are emphasized and encouraged to be planted, Forest department officials said during the state-level 74th Vanamahotsav celebration here inside the premises of the Government High School, Ghatikia.
Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Pradip Kumar Amat graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management and FE & CC Department, attended the event as the Guest of Honour and awarded the people who conducted massive tree planting.
The occasion started functioning with a plantation done by the chief guests, guest of honour, dignitaries and students in the premises of the school.
Debidutta Biswal, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries present on the occasion and highlighted the importance and objectives of Vanamahotsav.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed the meeting in virtual mode and expressed his immense pleasure in celebration of the 74th state level Vana Mohatsava and he advised the public to go for intensive tree planting inside the state to mitigate issues on global warming.
A brochure titled, “74th Vanamahotsav” in Odia, highlighting the activities under different plantation programmes and schemes of the State Forest Department was released on this occasion. Another Book titled Mangrove of Odisha was also released.
To create awareness among the school students, competitions like debate, essay writing and sit & draw were conducted. The winners of the competitions in each item were awarded on this occasion.
Adhapada Vana Surakshya Samiti of Sambalpur District was awarded as the best V.S.S of the State with monetary reward of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Headmaster, Government High School, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, gave the vote of thanks at the end.
The 74th Vanamahotsav was celebrated in the first week of July. The Forest Cover of the state is increasing with the help of the Forest Department through massive plantation and protection of existing forests throughout the state under various schemes of the Government of Odisha.
This year, site wise plantations are to be continued throughout the State in the component of Artificial Regeneration (AR), Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), Urban Tree Plantation (UTP), Avenue Plantation etc.
Among others, Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, MP Sulata Deo, MLA Susanta Rout, MLA Ananta Narayan Jena and Mayor Sulochana Das attended the event.