West Bengal CM Adhikari launches Forest Week, pledges 1 crore saplings by year-end
Synopsis
West Bengal's new CM Suvendu Adhikari used the launch of Forest Week to do two things at once: commit to planting one crore saplings and take an unmistakable dig at the TMC's environmental record. His vow to enforce the long-ignored one-third plantation rule in project approvals signals that green compliance could become a live political issue in the state's investment push.
Key Takeaways
CM Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated Aranya Saptaha (Forest Week) at Banabitan, Salt Lake on 14 July ; the event runs until 20 July .
The state government has set a target to plant one crore saplings across West Bengal before year-end.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has been directed to mass-distribute coconut saplings, which reportedly resist thunder and lightning.
Adhikari pledged to enforce an existing rule requiring one-third of any approved project area to be designated for plantation — a regulation he said is seldom followed.
The CM indirectly blamed the previous Trinamool Congress government for large-scale forest destruction, particularly in the Terai and Dooars regions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 14 July inaugurated Aranya Saptaha (Forest Week) at Banabitan, Salt Lake, Kolkata, calling for a firm balance between industrial growth and environmental protection. The week-long observance runs until 20 July and marks the new government's first major public push on green cover.
Key Announcements
Chief Minister Adhikari set a target of planting one crore saplings across West Bengal before the end of the year. He specifically directed the West Bengal Pollution Control Board to undertake mass distribution of coconut saplings, citing scientific evidence that coconut trees help resist thunder and lightning strikes. He also distributed saplings among school children at the inauguration event and launched the 'Banarath' initiative, urging citizens to plant trees under the national campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'.
The Regulation the CM Wants Enforced
Adhikari drew attention to an existing rule that requires any approved project to designate one-third of its total area for plantation, with the remaining two-thirds reserved for essential infrastructure. He acknowledged that this regulation is seldom fully adhered to and stated that his government would ensure it is upheld in its true spirit going forward.
Sharp Criticism of Forest Loss Under Previous Government
Speaking candidly, Adhikari painted a stark picture of environmental degradation in the state. 'We are living amid concrete jungles now. The condition is pathetic, even in areas where there were thick forests 10 years ago. Even the condition of the forests in the Terai and Dooars regions in West Bengal is so pathetic now. I am a son of the soil. I have witnessed how the forests in the state have been destroyed during the last few years. They have not even spared the trees. Therefore, extensive tree planting is necessary now to protect the environment,' he said. The remarks were widely read as an indirect indictment of the preceding Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Industrial Growth Without Environmental Cost
Adhikari emphasised that attracting large-scale investment and pursuing industrial expansion will not come at the expense of ecological safeguards. His government, he said, will remain vigilant to ensure environmental protection is embedded in every approval process. This comes amid West Bengal's active efforts to court investors following a change of government, making the balancing act between growth and green cover a politically and economically significant one.
What Comes Next
With Aranya Saptaha running through 20 July, district-level tree plantation drives are expected to intensify across the state. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has been tasked with executing the coconut sapling distribution at scale. Whether the one-crore-sapling target is independently tracked will be a key measure of the administration's commitment to accountability on environmental pledges.
Point of View
Without a public tracking mechanism, risks becoming the kind of round-number pledge that looks good at inauguration and disappears by December. More substantively, the one-third plantation rule for project approvals has existed for years yet gone unenforced; the real test is whether the new government builds an institutional check into the clearance process or leaves it to ministerial discretion. West Bengal is simultaneously courting industrial investment, which makes this balancing act structurally difficult — not just rhetorically convenient.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aranya Saptaha in West Bengal?
Aranya Saptaha, or Forest Week, is an annual observance promoting tree plantation and forest conservation across West Bengal. The 2025 edition was inaugurated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Banabitan, Salt Lake, Kolkata on 14 July and runs until 20 July.
How many saplings has the West Bengal government pledged to plant?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a target of one crore saplings to be planted across West Bengal before the end of the year. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has been specifically tasked with distributing coconut saplings at scale.
What is the one-third plantation rule Adhikari referred to?
An existing regulation requires that for any project receiving government approval, one-third of the total project area must be set aside for plantation, with two-thirds reserved for essential infrastructure. Adhikari acknowledged the rule is seldom enforced and pledged his government would uphold it strictly.
Why did CM Adhikari criticise forest conditions in Terai and Dooars?
Adhikari said forests in the Terai and Dooars regions have deteriorated sharply in recent years, describing the situation as 'pathetic.' His remarks were widely interpreted as an indirect criticism of the previous Trinamool Congress government under Mamata Banerjee, which he held responsible for large-scale deforestation.
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) is a national tree plantation campaign. Chief Minister Adhikari urged West Bengal residents to participate in the drive during his Aranya Saptaha address, framing it as a civic and environmental duty.
