By Express News Service
CUTTACK: Around three lakh saplings will be transplanted on the banks of Mahanadi river in Cuttack district under Green Mahanadi Mission by Forest Department. Saplings of different varieties including those of medicinal and fruit bearing plants will be planted within two km of both the banks. Beside Cuttack City, the saplings will be transplanted in the areas under Choudwar Municipality, Athgarh Forest Division, Khuntuni and Narasinghpur Forest Range from the current week. The Forest officials have completed the process of identifying suitable places where the saplings will be transplanted.
As per the plan, while 24,000 saplings will be planted in Cuttack Municipal Corporation(CMC) areas, around 40,000 saplings will be planted in Choudwar Municipality region. While the Forest department has set up a target for transplantation of 40 lakhs on July 7, Cuttack City Division has planned to plant 12,500 saplings on the outskirts of the city near Brajabiharipur Dhabaleswar bridge.
The DFOs of City, Sadar, Athagarh and Chandaka divisions held a detailed discussion at the residence of Cuttack Collector for successful implementation of the Mission. While ` three crore has been sanctioned initially for the plantation drive in the entire district, City DFO Prasant Mishra has been appointed as the Nodal Officer of the Green Mission in Cuttack district. Of the sanctioned fund, `1.21 crore has been allocated to Cuttack Forest Division which aims at transplanting 60,000 saplings in ARC campus, Nuagan, Jarapada and Kesharpur areas under Choudwar Municipality.
Similarly, Athagarh division targets to plant 1.34 lakh saplings in Athgarh, Khuntuni and Narasinghpur, while Chandaka division will transplant 20,500 saplings. Considering the drastic reduction in catchment areas due to human habitation, the State Government, had launched the Green Mahanadi Mission on the occasion of World Environment Day in a bid to increase the river’s recharge capacity by massive plantation drive.
