With the aim of increasing the forest cover of Maharashtra to 33 percent of the total land area, the Maharashtra government has started an enormous tree plantation drive. It aims to plant 50 crore saplings within a period of five years.

Already 2.8 crore trees were planted last year and now, from July 1st 4 crore trees will be planted. Currently, the forest cover of Maharashtra is just 20 per cent as against the nationally mandated 33 percent.

The target is to plant 13 crore saplings in 2018 and another 33 crore saplings in 2019. Vivek Khandekar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial), Pune and Solapur said that the plan is to plant at least 22.1 lakh saplings in Pune district of which 6.7 lakh saplings will be planted on forest land. 6 3 sites in Pune and 58 in Solapur belonging to the forest department have been earmarked for the plantation.

A function will be organized on July 1st at Mundhwa to plant saplings. The forest department has also started a scheme called ‘Rope aplya Daari’ which means home delivery of saplings.

The forest department is trying every possible way to improve the forest cover. They have set up stalls to sell plants from their own nurseries. They also started the Green Army movement and has urged residents to register for it.