Odisha Government to plant 10 Lakh Saplings in 4 Districts in 2015

Bikram Keshari Arukh, Minister of Forest & Environment in Odisha, has announced that Odisha Government will plant 10 lakh saphlings in 2015. Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Kalahandi districts have been identified for this mega plantation drive.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Odiisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and the Forest & Environment, Odisha on Friday. The OMC will bear the entire cost of Rs 1.38 crore. Rs 70 lakh will be given now and the rest of the amount will be provided by September.

In addition, the OMC will provide Rs 2.74 crore towards the maintenance cost over the next three years. Another Rs 3 crore will be given under the MGNREGA. OMC has decided to plant at least one tree for retrieving 10 lakh mining ore.

Apart from Forest & Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick, Additional Chief Secretary Upendra Nath Behera, Steel and Mines Secretary Raj Kumar Sharma and Mines Director Deepak Mohanty were present during the signing of MoU.