Target to expand Odisha's forest cover: Pradhan

UNION Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the focus is on increasing the forest cover in Odisha in the next 45 years.

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Speaking at the Odisha Non-Gazetted Forest Service Association, Sambalpur Circle at MCL Auditorium in Burla, Pradhan laid emphasis on the importance of forests in the state's economy. "Forests are the backbone of Odisha's economy. The livelihood of tribals is connected with the forest. Odisha ranks second in the country in terms of forest coverage and Sambalpur is one of the most forested regions of the state. The target is to increase our forest area in next 45 years," he said, adding, leaders of the country's freedom struggle and Independence came from forests.