SONEPUR:Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched ‘Green Mahanadi Mission’ in Sonepur and Boudh districts by planting saplings.
The Chief Minister planted a sapling on the bank of river Tel at Manamunda in Boudh district and
another at Budharaja plantation site on the bank of Mahanadi river in Sonepur.
The Green Mahanadi Mission, which envisages rejuvenating Mahanadi river and its tributaries Tel and Ib by increasing recharging capacity through massive plantation, was launched by the State Government in Sambalpur on June 5.
Under the mission, a green belt with width of 1 km will be created on both sides of the river beginning from the place, where the river enters Odisha to Paradip, where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. The plantation will be undertaken over 75,760 hectares government land besides 47,470 hectares private
land.
Apart from planting the sapling on the bank of river Mahanadi in Sonepur, Naveen also flagged off a Green Mahanadi Mission Ratha and a padayatra, which moved across the Sonepur town, to create awareness among the people about the Green Mahanadi Mission.Later, the Chief Minister went to Royal Field in Sonepur town and released the Green Mahanadi Abhijan Logo before addressing a gathering on the mission.
Terming Mahanadi river as mother, Naveen said it is the responsibility of all the people to protect it. He said two crore saplings will be planted in more than 1,300 villages in 15 districts under the Green Mahanadi Mission.
The Chief Minister also laid foundation stones and inaugurated various government-initiated developmental projects for Sonepur district at the Royal Field area.Among others, Forest and Environment Minster Bijayshree Routray, Housing and Urban Development Minister Niranajan Pujari and Balangir Lok Sabha member Kalikesh Singh Deo accompanied the Chief Minister.