The Odisha government plans to plant 13.11 crore saplings over a total area of 1,30,624 hectares under a new initiative called ¡®Sabuja Odisha.¡¯ This will be done in a bid to increase green cover in the state.?
According to ANI, the initiative was decided on, in a high-level meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on June 29. Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy also emphasised on more employment generation through the plantation and proper maintenance of seedlings, according to a statement. A web-based system will be put up for?real-time monitoring and supervision of the programme.
¡®The department has asked to form district-level committees led by the collector for proper coordination and implementation of the program at the ground level,¡¯ the statement said.
The Divisional Forest Officer headquarters would work as Plantation Officer in the district, according to the report.?
?"1,30,264 hectares of land has been identified for plantation, which is almost two times more than the last year plantation within 68,358 hectares," ANI quoted Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Sandeep Tripathy as saying. "The people will be given the seedling of their choice at Rs. 1 per seedling. The plantation sites with geographic information system coordinates will be uploaded on the website for continuous monitoring through satellite applications," the PCCF further said.?
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Currently, the Forest and Environment Department has 13.11 Crore seedlings of different kinds like the fruit-bearing species, medicinal plant, timber species, multi-purpose plants, aesthetic and shade bearing species, and endangered species, through 5,222 nurseries. Around 1.30 lakh hectare of land where these seedlings can be planted has been identified in 2,660 locations for plantation. The department has also started the work to further raise two crore more seedlings.?
Another initiative by the Odisha government, one related to dealing with coronavirus, is also being received well.?
According to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the state government is providing an incentive of Rs 2,000 to those returning to Odisha from other states after successful completion of quarantine period.
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?"The Government of Odisha issued an order that those coming from outside will be placed in institutional quarantine or home quarantine according to the case. To encourage people to register for (institutional) quarantine an incentive of Rs 2,000 is being given to them," ANI quoted Jajpur District Magistrate Ranjan Kumar Das as saying.?
"State govt has given all facilities here. Rs 2000 was credited in my account after I stayed here for 10 days,¡± a person quarantined in Jajpur told ANI.
These are applaud-worthy initiatives that other states should take inspiration from.?
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