Maharashtra sanctions Rs 90.72 lakh to tend saplings as 304 talukas face drought

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 90.72 lakh for the upkeep of saplings planted across the state for 2026-27. The money will be released only if the survival rate of the plants is at least 90 per cent. The condition has been made mandatory.

The sum comes at a time when 304 of the state's 358 talukas have been declared drought-hit after deficient rain this year. This has raised concern over the availability of water.

The Revenue and Forest Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Thursday. According to it, the money will be spent on fourth-year upkeep of plantations raised under the Panchayat Van, Bel Van and Amrut Van components of the state's afforestation scheme. These plantations cover 227 hectares in different districts.

The Pune forest circle has received the highest amount, Rs 42.80 lakh. Nagpur follows with Rs 20.80 lakh and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with Rs 20.76 lakh.

The GR states clearly that money will be released only for sites where at least 90 per cent of the saplings have survived. Local self-help groups and biodiversity management committees will be responsible for care, protection and maintenance.

The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Budget, Planning and Development), Maharashtra, has been directed to ensure that the stipulated conditions are followed, and to submit a utilisation certificate for the money released within seven days.

On Monday, the government also ordered soil and water conservation works in the same 304 talukas. Drought-related triggers were applied in these talukas in the 2026 kharif season. The works include building water-absorbing pits, desilting reservoirs and repairing check dams.

The state launched the afforestation initiative in 2023 under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, observed to mark 75 years of India's independence. Its aim is to increase greenery in urban and rural areas as well as at religious sites, and to strengthen ecological balance.

The initiative has three components: Amrut Van, Panchayat Van and Bel Van. They are focused, respectively, on urban centres, villages and major pilgrimage sites.

Amrut Van aims to create special urban forest gardens with native tree species on land belonging to local bodies or the forest department in 75 large cities and important urban centres. Under Panchayat Van, forest groves are to be raised in 25 selected villages in each district. Each grove will have five tree species that are culturally important and ecologically suitable, to boost biodiversity.

Bel Van involves planting at 75 major pilgrimage and religious sites in Maharashtra. The species include sacred and medicinal plants such as bel, Sita Ashok, rudraksha, ber and swastik. This links environmental conservation with the state's religious and cultural traditions.