Boudh: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today inaugurated the 'Green Mahanadi Mission', a mega plantation drive along the river basin.

Under the programme, more than 5 crore saplings will be planted over 41,000 hectares of land on both sides of major rivers of the state and 5,000 km roadside within five years at an expenditure of around Rs 5,000 crore.

The objective of the mission is to recharge and revitalise the groundwater reserve along Mahanadi banks.

Plantation within one km radius of the banks on both sides would primarily include fruit-bearing trees like mango, jackfruit, jamun etc. which will have multiple benefits such as ground water harvesting, preventing soil erosion along the banks and ensuring income and livelihood opportunities for the local communities.

Similar initiatives will be undertaken on Ib and Tel rivers and subsequently extended to all major rivers in the state.