West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has raised concerns over the declining forest cover in the state and stressed that tree plantation efforts will have little impact without proper care and long term maintenance.

Speaking at the launch of the Forest Week programme at Banabitan, organised by the forest department on Tuesday, Adhikari said protecting newly planted trees is as important as planting them. Three tableaux named Aranya Rath were also flagged off during the event to spread awareness about forest conservation across Bengal.

Expressing concern over the changing landscape of north Bengal, the Chief Minister said the reduction of green cover was clearly visible while travelling over areas that once had dense forests. He highlighted regions like the Terai and Dooars and called for stronger steps to protect Bengal’s natural environment.

Adhikari said the state government would work towards increasing forest cover while ensuring a balance between development needs and environmental protection. He also mentioned the target of planting 7.2 crore trees across Bengal this year and appealed to social organisations and private companies to join the plantation campaign.

However, he pointed out that planting saplings alone cannot guarantee a greener future. According to him, newly planted trees require regular care during their initial years to survive and grow. He urged organisations taking part in plantation drives to take responsibility for nurturing the trees after planting them.

The Chief Minister also announced that fruit bearing saplings would be distributed through Seva Camps held during major Rath Yatra programmes across the state. He added that the Pollution Control Board has been asked to distribute coconut saplings to support environmental protection.

Along with forest conservation, Adhikari directed officials to take strict measures against timber theft and announced steps to fill vacancies in the forest department. He said future recruitment in the department would be carried out through the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board.

The Forest Week programme also highlighted the role of students in environmental awareness. Several school students received saplings during the event as part of efforts to encourage the younger generation to participate in protecting nature.

The programme was attended by Forest and Environment Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon, Health Minister and local MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee and other officials.