Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of India’s leading states in forest conservation and environmental sustainability, recording an increase of 558 square kilometres in forest and tree cover over the past two years, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on July 8. He asserted that large-scale afforestation remains the most effective long-term solution to address the growing challenges posed by climate change and recurring heatwaves.
Addressing the 77th State-Level Van Mahotsav at Kapileswar on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister said development and environmental conservation are not contradictory but complementary, and that the state government is committed to ensuring balanced and sustainable growth.
“Global climate change and rising temperatures have made environmental conservation a collective responsibility. Expanding green cover through large-scale plantation is the most sustainable way to safeguard the future. Odisha has demonstrated that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand,” Majhi said.
ଆମ ସରକାର ପରିବେଶ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟର ସବୁଜିମା ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଦୂରଦର୍ଶୀ ଯୋଜନା ସଫଳତାର ସହ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ କରୁଛନ୍ତି। ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦନ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରି ସାରା ଦେଶରେ ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଅଗ୍ରଣୀ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇବାରେ ବନ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ସମିତି ଏବଂ ଜନସାଧାରଣଙ୍କ ସହଭାଗିତା ଅତୁଳନୀୟ। ନଦୀଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ‘ସବୁଜ ମହାନଦୀ… pic.twitter.com/0JpWcnm0Gs
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 7, 2026
The Chief Minister highlighted that Odisha’s forest and tree cover has expanded by 558 sq km during the last two years, placing the state third in the country in terms of increase in green cover. He described the achievement as the outcome of sustained government initiatives, community participation, and scientific forest management.
Majhi said the state government is implementing the Sabuja Mahanadi Mission to rejuvenate major rivers and ensure perennial water flow. Under the mission, a 1.5-kilometre-wide green corridor is being developed along the banks of major rivers, including the Mahanadi, Tel, Ib, Brahmani, Rushikulya, Baitarani and Vansadhara.
During the financial year 2025-26, around 5.65 lakh saplings were planted across 774 hectares under the programme. For 2026-27, the government has set an ambitious target of planting nearly nine lakh saplings over 2,702 hectares.
The Chief Minister also outlined several other plantation initiatives aimed at strengthening Odisha’s green infrastructure. Under the Enhanced Green Belt Scheme, around 15.93 lakh saplings will be planted across 358 hectares during the current financial year. In urban areas, where rising pollution has become a growing concern, the government has planned to plant approximately 6.95 lakh saplings to improve air quality and expand urban green spaces.
Speaking about community-led forest restoration, Majhi said the Ama Jangala Yojana has successfully restored 19,975 hectares of degraded forest land. The programme has also benefited 43.18 lakh local stakeholders, who have been linked to livelihood-based initiatives worth Rs 1,488.52 crore, thereby combining environmental conservation with rural economic development.
Highlighting other major initiatives, the Chief Minister said that under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme, plantation activities will be undertaken across more than 20,562 hectares of forest land during the coming year.
୨୦୨୫-୨୬ ଆର୍ଥିକ ବର୍ଷରେ ୭୭୪ ହେକ୍ଟର ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ୫.୬୫ ଲକ୍ଷ ଚାରା ରୋପଣ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ବେଳେ ୨୦୨୬-୨୭ ବର୍ଷରେ ୨,୭୦୨ ହେକ୍ଟର ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ପ୍ରାୟ ୯ ଲକ୍ଷ ଚାରା ରୋପଣର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ରଖାଯାଇଛି। ସେହିପରି ‘ବର୍ଦ୍ଧିତ ସବୁଜ ବଳୟ ଯୋଜନା’ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ ୩୫୮ ହେକ୍ଟର ଜମିରେ ୧୫ ଲକ୍ଷ ୯୩ ହଜାର ବୃକ୍ଷଚାରା ରୋପଣ କରାଯିବ। ସହରାଞ୍ଚଳରେ… pic.twitter.com/JxdzrVwLzn
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 7, 2026
He further informed that the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project-II (OFSDP-II), being implemented with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is strengthening 1,210 Forest Protection Committees across the state, promoting community participation in sustainable forest management.
To strengthen the resilience of Odisha’s vulnerable coastline, the state is implementing the Union Government’s MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme. Under the programme, 89 hectares of mangrove forests are being developed. Simultaneously, 2,405 hectares of saline forests are being restored under the ECRICC project to improve coastal ecosystems and enhance climate resilience.
The Chief Minister also said that 17.90 lakh palm saplings were planted during the previous financial year as part of the state’s initiative to reduce casualties caused by lightning, a recurring natural hazard in Odisha.
Majhi announced that the newly launched Viksit Bharat–Rozgar Guarantee and Livelihood Mission (Rural), implemented jointly by the Centre and the State from July 1, 2026, will not only promote afforestation but also generate sustainable employment opportunities for rural communities.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, the Chief Minister said the initiative has evolved into a mass movement across Odisha. On the Prime Minister’s birthday last year, the state planted 1.49 crore saplings in a single day, while plantation records of more than 8.12 crore saplings have already been uploaded on the Mission LiFE portal.
For the current year, the Union Government has assigned Odisha a target of planting 3.76 crore saplings, and the state is working to achieve the goal through coordinated efforts involving government agencies, local bodies, educational institutions and community organisations.
Reiterating that environmental protection cannot be achieved by the government alone, Majhi called upon voluntary organisations, environmentalists and citizens to actively participate in conservation efforts. He also urged civil society to ensure strict adherence to environmental regulations and appealed to people across the state to plant more trees for building a greener, healthier and more sustainable Odisha.
Speaking on the occasion, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia stressed that public participation is the cornerstone of successful afforestation programmes. He said forest conservation cannot succeed solely through government schemes and called for active involvement of citizens, community groups and social organisations from villages to urban centres.
During the event, the state government honoured outstanding contributions to forest conservation and afforestation. The Jereng Budhipahad Forest Protection Committee of Angul district and the Gudgudia Eco Development Committee (EDC) of Mayurbhanj district received the State-Level Chief Minister’s Award, with each organisation being presented a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for their exemplary work in protecting and regenerating forests.
The programme was attended by Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr K. Murugesan, senior government officials, representatives of voluntary organisations, environmental experts and a large number of students.
