On World Environment Day, Samrat launches ‘one-lakh sapling plantation’ drive

Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday launched a “one lakh sapling plantation” campaign under the JP Ganga Path Samagra Udyan Project, marking World Environment Day by planting them himself. On this occasion, he urged people across the state to plant at least one sapling in the name of their mother, linking personal commitment with environmental responsibility. He also flagged off awareness vehicles of the environment, forest and climate change department to spread messages on conservation, plantation and climate action.

Addressing the gathering, the CM said Bihar is moving towards installing solar-based electricity generation devices at people’s homes. In the first phase, solar plates will be installed on the rooftops of five lakh households. Under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, the Central govt will provide support of Rs33,000 for each rooftop solar plate, while the remaining cost will be borne by the state govt. He said the rollout would begin this month after an MoU is signed with the Govt of India, adding that loans would be taken if needed and that cooperation from the Centre is being received.

He set a target to provide solar-generated electricity to 50 lakh families within the next two years. He also announced that if a household generates more than 125 units through solar, the state govt will purchase the additional electricity and transfer the payment directly to the beneficiary’s account, turning rooftop solar into a potential income source. He said Jeevika Didis will be connected to this work and will receive a separate incentive for their participation. State’s environment, forest and climate change minister Ramchandra Prasad welcomed the CM.

Samrat recalled that when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, Bihar’s forest area was under 10%, and he credited former CM Nitish Kumar with significant plantation work that helped expand forest cover.

He further appealed to women to opt for environment-friendly electric scooters, for which the govt is providing a Rs12,000 grant, and said buyers of four-wheeler electric vehicles will receive a grant of Rs1 lakh.

He also highlighted electricity subsidies, saying Bihar provides Rs23,000 crore in grants to electricity consumers. With a state budget of Rs3,47,000 crore and own resources of Rs60,000-70,000 crore, he said, nearly one-third of that is being given as electricity subsidy.