Ensure plantation of 433 lakh saplings in 1 yr: CM to officials

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asked the officials of the department of environment, forest and climate change to properly execute the plan to plant 433 lakh saplings in the current financial year (2023-24) to increase the state's total green cover to 17% from the existing 15%.
Chairing a meeting to review the functioning of the department at 'Sankalp' hall of the CM residence here, Nitish also enquired about the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming state-wide plantation drive in the rainy season.
Director (social forestry) C P Khanduja, through a presentation, informed the CM that the department has fixed a target of planting 433 lakh saplings under the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan in 2023-24 financial year. Khanduja also informed the CM about the plantation works executed in the past four financial years from 2019-20 to 2022-23 in Bihar.
"The department has to play a great role for environment protection. It should work in a better way based on its policies and priorities and ensure plantation work at a faster pace," the CM said.
He also asked the officials concerned to take all necessary measures to ensure survival of those saplings and plants which were planted earlier.
The CM suggested that a maximum number of saplings be planted on the premises of government buildings. He also asked the officials to expediate plantation work on the banks of canals and rivers across the state. "After bifurcation of Jharkhand from Bihar in 2000, the green cover of Bihar reduced to 9%. The state government began a 'Hariyali Mission' in 2012 and a target of planting 24 crore saplings was fixed. Around 22 crore saplings have so far been planted. With this, the state's green cover has increased to 15%. We aim to increase the state's green cover to 17%," the CM said.
Earlier, principal secretary of the department, Arvind Kumar Choudhary, gave detailed information to the CM about the latest status of schemes being executed by the department.
State's finance and commercial taxes minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, chief secretary Amir Subhani and many other senior officials were present at the meeting.