Kalaburagi: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on July 5, 2025, stressed the need to increase forest cover in Karnataka and across the country, expressing dismay over the “ineffective implementation of existing laws and programmes” to curb deforestation and expand green cover.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha urged ministers, authorities, central and state governments, and the public to pay serious attention to the loss of tree cover. He claimed that governments may come and go, but if nature is not protected, there will be no foundation for life in the future.

The Congress President was speaking at the Vanamahotsava (tree plantation festival) event here in Kalaburagi, part of the ‘Hariru Kalyana Karnataka’ initiative, under which the state’s forest department aims to plant and nurture over 25 lakh saplings in the region. “Forest cover should increase across the country. Trees should be planted along roadsides and properly maintained. If you can’t grow trees, you have no right to cut them,” Shri Mallikarjun Kharge added.

“Our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi introduced the Forest Conservation Act 1980, and further the Forest Rights Act was introduced during Man Mohan Singh’s tenure, and recently, the Modi-led government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, but no States in the country are fully complying with forest related laws. If this situation continues, the environment degradation can indeed worsen air quality and generate more health hazards in the coming days,” Shri Kharge expressed.

Citing a forest report, he pointed out that the country’s forest cover averages 25.17 per cent of its geographical area, which he said is insufficient and should be at least 33 per cent. He noted that Karnataka’s forest cover stands at just 21 per cent and called for planting trees along roads, near houses, in schools, colleges, and around agricultural fields. “Even if two trees are planted in front of every house, it will make a difference,” he said, highlighting that nearly 20 lakh hectares of tree cover have been lost in the country.

Stressing on the need to increase forest cover to combat climate change and global warming, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge suggested the State government develop forests near the backwaters of the reservoirs and dams.

The leader appealed to the public to join their hands with the government in expanding green cover by planting saplings at their homes, schools, and on the borders of agricultural fields. Just planting saplings is not a solution, ensuring survival of the planted trees is equally important, he said.

The State government aims to plant three crore saplings this year, of which even if 2.5 crore of saplings survive, it will be highly beneficial, Congress President expressed. Congress President also distributed saplings to the students on the occasion.

Minister for Forest and Environment Shri Eshwar B. Khandre and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shri Priyank Kharge; MP, legislators, senior officials from the Forest Department, RDPR and Urban Development departments were present.