Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Kolkata looks like concrete jungle from above: West Bengal CM
Kolkata is a very big city in India.
An important leader looked at the city from a plane and saw lots of buildings but hardly any trees.
He said the city looks like a 'concrete jungle', made of grey concrete instead of green.
Trees are called the 'lungs' of a city because they help clean the air.
The leader asked people to plant many trees to protect Kolkata.
The government is planting 50 lakh trees in just one day.
They hope to plant ten crore trees by 2027.
Trees also help protect people from lightning, and more than 100 people in the state have died because of lightning.
New trees will be tagged and cared for over two years.
This work also gives jobs to people living in villages.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched the 'Sabuj Swadhinata' plantation drive at Mohor Kunja, saying Kolkata looks like a 'concrete jungle' from above.
The state aims to plant 50 lakh saplings in a single day, covering 40,218 villages with 100 saplings each along with urban local bodies.
Adhikari called coconut and areca nut trees 'natural lightning arresters', noting that more than 100 people died in lightning-related incidents in the state.
The government has set a target of planting 10 crore trees by March 31, 2027.
Forest Minister Manoj Oraon said over 2 crore saplings were already planted or distributed in the first 100 days of the government, with CSR bodies pledging over 36 lakh more by March 2027.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who launched the drive, and Forest Minister Manoj Oraon.
- What
- Launch of the state-wide 'Sabuj Swadhinata' tree plantation drive, with a one-day target of 50 lakh saplings and a state target of 10 crore trees.
- When
- On Tuesday, when the drive was inaugurated; the exact date was not stated in the article.
- Where
- At Mohor Kunja, covering 40,218 villages across West Bengal and urban local bodies.
- Why
- To protect Kolkata's 'lungs' and reduce its 'concrete jungle' appearance, mitigate lightning-related deaths, and generate rural employment through plantation maintenance.
- Chief Minister
- Suvendu Adhikari
- Forest Minister
- Manoj Oraon
- Drive name
- Sabuj Swadhinata
- One-day plantation target
- 50 lakh saplings
- State tree target
- 10 crore trees by March 31, 2027
- Villages covered
- 40,218 villages (100 saplings each)
- Saplings in first 100 days
- Over 2 crore planted or distributed
- CSR pledges
- Over 36 lakh saplings by March 2027