Adhikari pledges to plant 10 crore trees in 1 year
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday inaugurated the Sabuj Swadhinata (Green Independence) campaign, reiterating once again his Government’s pledge to plant 10 crore trees in a year.
To begin with, the State would witness the planting of 50 lakh saplings in a single day. The plants would be maintained and supported through the G RAM G (Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) scheme, with 60 per cent of the total expenditure to be borne by the Centre.
The Forest Department would supply the saplings and other necessary things. Every village would plant at least 100 trees, and all the 3,366 gram panchayats, 354 blocks and 23 districts would be a part of it, said the Chief Minister who inaugurated the programme at Moharkunj Park in southern Kolkata.
According to a Government estimate, the initiative would create about 41 lakh working days. “Kolkata is changing into a concrete jungle, and sometimes it is frightening to see very little greenery in the State, so if we want to save the city we will have to plant more and more trees,” adding that the areca and coconut trees work as natural lightning arresters.
The Chief Minister said that corporate social responsibility organisations and other organisations had offered to contribute their bit by planting about 36 lakh saplings in the coming six months.
