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Odisha: Pradhan urges Yadav to develop Industrial, coal, heat-affected areas as urban forests

Bhubaneswar, May 28 (UNI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, to take immediate steps to develop urban forests under the 'Nagar Van Yojana' (NBY) in Odisha's industrial, coal mining, and heat-affected regions. During a meeting with Yadav in New Delhi on Wednesday, Pradhan proposed the development of urban forests in the industrial belt of Sambalpur–Jharsuguda–Brajrajnagar, the coal mining areas of Angul–Dhenkanal, and the heat-prone regions of Titilagarh and Balangir under the NBY initiative. Pradhan also sought Yadav's personal intervention to develop the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as part of a tiger reserve, alongside the proposed expansion of the Sambalpur Zoo. In his letter to the Environment Minister, Pradhan noted that the above-mentioned regions are experiencing extreme heat as a result of climate change, which is adversely impacting public health. He praised the Ministry's Urban Forest Scheme, designed to support the development of green spaces in areas managed by municipal corporations, councils, and urban local bodies (ULBs). Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'One Earth, Many Efforts' vision, Pradhan emphasised that the establishment of urban forests would significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and the overall well-being of communities. Highlighting the Prime Minister's call for "Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)", Pradhan reiterated the importance of both individual and collective action in addressing climate challenges. He also proposed the launch of a massive public awareness campaign to encourage community participation in tree plantation drives and environmental education, timed with World Environment Day on June 5. According to Pradhan, this initiative would act as a catalyst for widespread implementation of the Urban Forest Scheme in Odisha's vulnerable regions. He urged Yadav to prioritise the creation of urban forests in the identified clusters to provide a sustainable and natural solution to combat the intensifying heat waves through large-scale afforestation. UNI DP ARN