Implement 300-Crore Tree Plantation Mission for a Green Maharashtra: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : To expand Maharashtra’s green cover through a three-pronged approach of environmental conservation, combating climate change, and generating rural employment, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that a massive 300-crore tree plantation programme be undertaken during the period 2026 to 2031. He also instructed that experts, voluntary organisations, and startups working in the sector should be actively involved in the tree plantation drive.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a review meeting held at Varsha, his official residence, to discuss the proposed Green Maharashtra Authority and the 300-Crore Tree Plantation Mission, which he chaired.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said the programme should be implemented in mission mode to increase the state’s forest cover to 33 per cent. He directed that a proposal to establish the Green Maharashtra Authority be presented before the Cabinet for effective coordination of the mission. Along with government departments and institutions, startups working in this domain should be involved, which would also help create an employment-generating startup ecosystem.

He further stated that regions with low forest cover, such as Marathwada, should be given priority under the programme. Under the Green Maharashtra initiative, up to 20 crore trees should be planted in the first year, subject to the availability of saplings. Species such as bamboo and teak should be included. For sapling production, participation should be ensured not only from government nurseries but also from private nurseries and self-help groups. Clear targets should be assigned to all concerned government departments, the Forest Department, and nurseries, while encouraging the participation of farmers, youth, and women in rural areas.

On the occasion, Pravin Pardeshi, Chief Executive Officer of MITRA, made a detailed presentation on the initiative. It was explained that under the mission, plantation would be carried out strictly with species suited to local ecosystems, based on the state’s diverse agro-climatic zones. Grasslands and wetlands will not be subjected to tree plantation; instead, these ecosystems will be restored.

The mission will be implemented using a digital and satellite-based real-time monitoring system, ensuring transparent tracking of plantation and tree survival rates. Regular assessments will be conducted to monitor tree survival, forest creation, and sapling growth.

Maintenance for a period of three to five years will be ensured through schemes such as MGNREGA, CAMPA, the Agriculture Department, and local self-government bodies. However, it has been decided to extend the tree survival responsibility period to 10 years. The initiative is expected to significantly contribute to groundwater recharge, soil fertility, biodiversity enhancement, and large-scale employment generation in rural areas.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Senior Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister and MITRA CEO Pravin Pardeshi, Additional Chief Secretaries Deepak Kapoor (Water Resources), Milind Mhaiskar (Forest), Vikas Kharge (Revenue), K. H. Govindrajan (Urban Development–II), Vikas Chandra Rastogi (Agriculture), Soil and Water Conservation Secretary Ganesh Patil, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Force Chief) Srinivas Rao, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry) Vivek Khandekar, and Director of the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC), Shri Kolte, among others.