Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced to observe July 7 as the State Plantation Day with planting a record of 50 lakh saplings in a day across the State.
Attending a Vana Mahotsav programme here on Saturday, Patnaik urged people belonging to all sections of the society to join the plantation drive on the day.
Out of the 50 lakh saplings, 17 lakh would be planted in 122 urban areas.
This fiscal year, the Government has decided to plant 8,22,35,000 saplings in a 5,81,204 hectares of area.
The CM said the State’s forest area has been increased to 35 per cent from 3 per cent in the past five years, the CM said. The Government has planned roadside plantation up to 5,383 km this year.
Besides, saplings would be distributed to people and private organisations at minimal prices while free saplings would be provided to the State-run schools.
As many as 791 holy forest areas would be revived. A target has been set to plant 79,100 saplings of different varieties that are becoming extinct.