2 days ago
State launches greening drive with sapling planting
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Kolkata: The West Bengal govt has launched an ambitious greening campaign as part of Banmahotsav 2025, with a goal of planting two saplings per person in urban areas and five per person in rural areas.
The initiative, described as "unprecedented in scale," aims to combat climate change and environmental degradation across the state. In all, the state is attempting to plant over 40 crore saplings.
On Saturday, state forest minister Birbaha Hansda flagged off the celebration by inaugurating awareness tableaus from Aranya Bhaban in Kolkata. The tableaus, which will travel across central, north, and south Kolkata, as well as Salt Lake and New Town, will serve as both awareness vehicles and mobile seedling distribution units.
Another tableau was launched from Siliguri.
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Climate change is real and accelerating," Hansda told TOI. "Our chief minister Mamata Banerjee has given a clear mandate for extensive greening and expansion of forest cover. But we must also address the rapid loss of greenery in non-forest areas. If each citizen plants just a couple of trees and cares for them for six months, we can create a visible, meaningful change."
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Banmahotsav 2025 will be observed across the state from July 14 to July 20, with the state-level event scheduled at Bengal Safari in Siliguri on July 14. In addition, 23 district-level and 2 sub-divisional-level programs will be organised to ensure grassroots participation.
Key highlights of this year's Banmahotsav include the free distribution of saplings: two seedlings per individual in urban areas and five in rural areas from all state forest nurseries.
Joint patrolling involves collaboration with Joint Forest Management Committees to safeguard forested zones.
For tree plantation drives, public participation is being encouraged across schools, municipalities, panchayats, and community groups. "We are asking everyone, particularly people's representatives from all levels, to take part in it," said Hansda.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Department of Forests in association with local self-help groups, emphasises not only planting but also protecting trees to ensure long-term ecological benefits.