Bhubaneswar: Jayadev MLA Naba Kishor Mallick said that panchayats that increase green cover through tree plantation and make their areas plastic-free will receive additional funds from the MLA’s local area development fund.

Mallick made the announcement while attending the Climate Panchayat programme organised by 'Sambad Ama Odisha' at the Ama Sangathan office in Gadashrirampur under the Jayadev Assembly constituency on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, Mallick said efforts must be made to create resources and opportunities for future generations to lead healthy lives. He stressed the need for large-scale plantation to build a greener environment and said merely planting trees would not be enough unless they were properly protected and allowed to grow.

He said 100 saplings would be planted in each panchayat and steps would be taken to ensure their survival. Mallick also assured full cooperation in the tree plantation initiatives being undertaken by 'Sambad'.

The MLA emphasised the need to make society free from plastic and said panchayats that perform well in both plantation and plastic-free initiatives would be given additional financial support from his MLA fund.

Mallick also expressed concern that some environmental protection programmes implemented by the administration remain limited to paperwork and stressed the need for proper monitoring.

He said he would raise the issue in the Odisha Assembly and seek details on the effectiveness of government tree plantation programmes undertaken so far.

The programme was presided over by Saroj Kumar Dash, head of the Bhubaneswar city edition of 'Sambad'. Mallick attended the event as the chief guest.