Odisha to Plant 75 Lakh Saplings in a Day

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen green cover and build climate resilience, the Odisha government has set a target of planting over 75 lakh saplings in a single day as part of the nationwide campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday.

The campaign aims to plant 1.5 crore saplings across India in a day, with Odisha contributing a significant share. Chairing a preparatory meeting, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia underlined the role of trees in reducing pollution, improving air quality, and mitigating the impact of climate change.

“Planting saplings is only the first step. Proper care and maintenance are essential to ensure they grow into healthy trees,” the minister said, calling for special focus on industrial zones and drought-prone regions.

Last year, Odisha planted 6.72 crore saplings, ranking fourth nationally. This year, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the state has set an ambitious target of 7.5 crore saplings, of which 4.7 crore have already been planted in the last 45 days.

The government has urged widespread public participation, inviting panchayats, schools, youth groups, and community organisations to join the drive. Participants have also been encouraged to upload photographs of their plantation activities on the “Meri LiFE” portal for progress tracking.

Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu directed all district and field officials to complete plantation activities between sunrise and sunset on September 17, and ensure timely data entry on the portal.

The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Suresh Pant, CAMPA CEO G. Rajesh, senior officials, and Divisional Forest Officers from across the state.