Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said three crore seedlings would be distributed free of cost from different nurseries of the Forest Department to the people for plantation in their farmlands, homestead lands, institutional premises and roadside in order protect environment.
Speaking at the State-level 64th Vana Mahotsav function here at the preemies of the IRC Village Government High School, Patnaik said, “Under afforestation, 7.50 crore saplings were produced from 2,000 nurseries in the current year. Out of it 4.30 crore saplings will be utilised under various afforestation programmes while three crore seedlings will be distributed to people free of cost.”
He further stated that in order to protect forest and environment local people were included in Joint Forest Management programme, besides focusing on bamboo and herbal plantation.
Patnaik felicitated Pajimaha Banasarakhyan Samiti of Kandhamal district and Pokadunga Banasarakhyan Samiti of Angul with the first Biju Patnaik Award for their contributions in ensuring plantation and protection of environment in their localities. They too received a cash award of Rs 1 lakh each.
Among others, Forest and Environment Minister Bijayashree Routray and city MlAs Bhagirathi Badajena and Bijay Mohanty and many senior Government officials were present.