Mungantiwar calls for implementation of green city concept

Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today called for the implementation of "green city" concept along with the smart city programme to increase the tree cover in the state.

He was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the construction sector, held to appeal them to participate in the government's ambitious plan to plant 13 crore saplings in July this year.

"Builders should make every possible contribution to implement the concept of green city, and they should work for large-scale plantation on the premises of and in the surrounding areas of cooperative housing societies," he said.

Tree plantation was not just the government's responsibility but a public campaign, he said.

In the first year of the BJP-led government's tree plantation programme, 2 crore 81 lakh saplings were planted and the number rose to 5 crore 43 lakh the next year, he said.

"Builders should also adopt a village each for tree plantation," the minister said.