Boudh, July 24, 2018: Strengthening the State Government’s resolve to save Odisha’s lifeline Mahanadi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday here flagged off Green Mahanadi Mission focused on improving water retaining capacity and its conservation for future generations.
The Mission will plant over two crore saplings in 1,303 villages along the river in 15 districts, including more than 63 lakh saplings in next year. In five years, the Mission will cover all major rivers covering 16,500 hectares and avenue plantation on 500km of roads.
Mahanadi runs around 500km in the State. The initiative is to help retain water in the riverbed and revitalising the groundwater along the river banks.
Plantation would be done over 75,760 hectares of Government land and 47,470 hectares of private land within 1 km radius of the banks on both sides.
The trees planted would primarily be fruit-bearing trees like mango, jack fruit, jamun etc. which will have multiple benefits from ground water harvesting, preventing soil erosion along the banks and ensuring income and livelihood opportunities for the local communities.
Forests and Environment Minister Bijayashree Routray, department Secretary Suresh Mohapatra among many others attended the launching event.
