Bhubaneswar- July 7, (OT Webdesk): In a landmark celebration of the 76th Van Mahotsav, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled a visionary roadmap for Odisha’s environmental rejuvenation, rooted in afforestation, eco-tourism, and tribal livelihood generation under Vision Odisha 2036.
The CM announced the revamp of environmental awards, synchronising with globally recognised days like World Forest Day, Environment Day, and Wildlife Week, designed to boost grassroots engagement and institutional accountability.
A cornerstone of the event was the launch of “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, targeting the plantation of 7.5 crore saplings—building on last year’s 6.69 crore trees planted, which ranked Odisha fourth in the nation.
Majhi also committed to creating 100 forest produce processing centres utilising sal, bamboo, and medicinal herbs. The initiative aspires to generate ₹5,000 crore in revenue and empower 10 lakh green livelihoods, especially among tribal communities.
Wildlife preservation received a technological uplift with a ₹50 crore allocation for Similipal National Park, now officially recognised, and the adoption of AI-powered wildfire detection systems. Further, compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims was increased from ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia emphasised the emotional and ecological theme—“Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, reinforcing community-rooted environmental responsibility.
New award structures under various observances will now honour forest rangers, educational institutions, Panchayats, and NGOs for exemplary plantation, awareness, and conservation efforts, ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹4 lakh in prize money.
