Mumbai, May 7 : In a major step towards environmental conservation and climate resilience, the Maharashtra government has approved the formation of the ‘Green Maharashtra Commission’ to oversee an ambitious target of planting 3 billion trees across the state. The decision was cleared by the state’s Revenue and Forest Department under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The newly formed Commission aims to significantly increase Maharashtra’s forest and tree cover from the current 21.25% to the national target of 33%, in line with the National Forest Policy of 1988. The initiative is expected to play a key role in tackling rising pollution levels, climate change challenges, and ecological degradation across the state.
The Commission will function as a high-powered coordinating body responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring, and long-term maintenance of plantation activities. The Chief Minister will serve as the Chairperson, while the Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister will act as Vice-Chairpersons. Senior officials including the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretaries from Finance, Revenue, Rural Development, and Urban Development departments will also be part of the panel. The Principal Secretary of the Forest Department will serve as Member Secretary.
Officials said the Commission will review progress every six months, monitor fund allocation, and resolve issues related to land availability for plantation projects.
Apart from conventional afforestation, the Commission will also focus on developing green infrastructure across urban and rural regions. The plan includes the creation of urban forests (‘Nagar Vans’) in cities, large-scale plantation drives along highways and major roads, and promotion of bamboo cultivation to strengthen the rural economy and generate employment opportunities for farmers and youth.
To ensure transparency and effective monitoring, the state government will deploy advanced technologies such as satellite imaging and drone surveillance to track plantation growth and survival rates in real time. District-level Coordination Committees headed by District Collectors will also be established to provide regular field reports to the Commission.
The Maharashtra government believes that the establishment of the Green Maharashtra Commission marks a transformative step towards building a greener and more sustainable future for the state while improving environmental health for future generations.
