Maharashtra Launches 300 Crore Tree Plantation Drive to Boost Green Cover State forest minister Ganesh Naik announced on Thursday that Maharashtra’s statewide tree plantation campaign, envisioned by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to significantly enhance the state’s green cover and environmental resilience. Speaking at an event in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivali on World Environment Day, Naik emphasized the initiative’s focus on large-scale planting of fruit-bearing trees such as jamun, guava, and jackfruit within the park to ensure wildlife has adequate food sources within forest boundaries. He highlighted that this strategy would reduce instances of animals venturing outside forests in search of sustenance. The campaign, with an allocated budget of 300 crore rupees, also prioritizes improving road connectivity to hilly settlements and hamlets, creating sacred groves, and establishing green forest zones. Naik mentioned that one lakh saplings would be made available for Mumbai through the social forestry department, as requested by Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde. Additionally, efforts are underway to modernize facilities and equipment for forest personnel, with proposals under consideration to raise funds for the forest department through bonds. Five tissue culture centers have been set up across the state to produce high-quality saplings on a large scale, targeting the creation of 15 million saplings. During the event, Naik laid the foundation stone for a Central Government Employees Residential Complex and inaugurated a special awareness vehicle for environmental outreach. Forest personnel were also equipped with self-protection kits for working in forest areas.#maharashtra #mumbai #devendra_fadnavis #ganesh_naik #sanjay_gandhi_national_park
Maharashtra Launches 300 Crore Tree Plantation Drive to Boost Green Cover State forest minister Ganesh Naik announced on Thursday that a statewide tree plantation campaign worth 300 crore rupees, envisioned by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to make Maharashtra greener and more environmentally resilient. Speaking at an event in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivali on World Environment Day, Naik emphasized the campaign's focus on large-scale planting of fruit-bearing trees such as jamun, guava, and jackfruit within the park. He explained that this initiative would ensure wildlife has sufficient food sources within forest boundaries, reducing incidents of animals venturing outside forests in search of sustenance. Naik highlighted additional priorities, including improving road connectivity to hilly settlements and hamlets, creating sacred groves, and establishing green forest zones. He also mentioned efforts to provide modern facilities and equipment to forest personnel, with proposals under consideration to raise funds for the forest department through bonds. Five tissue culture centers have been set up across the state to produce high-quality saplings on a large scale. During the event, Naik laid the foundation stone for a Central Government Employees Residential Complex and inaugurated a special awareness vehicle for environmental outreach. Forest personnel were equipped with self-protection kits for working in forest areas. Naik stressed the importance of promoting solar and wind power as alternatives to conventional fuels, stating that Maharashtra is progressing while balancing development with environmental conservation.#maharashtra #devendra_fadnavis #ganesh_naic #sanjay_gandhi_national_park #central_government_employees_residential_complex
