TFP Bureau, Raipur, April 27, 2026: Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee constituted for the Chhattisgarh State Climate Change Action Plan, held at Mahanadi Bhawan on April 27. He directed officials to prepare Gram Panchayat-wise climate action plans to make rural areas of Chhattisgarh resilient to climate change. He also asked departments to propose effective utilisation of available CSR funds for climate-related programmes in the state.
Discussions focused on the functioning of the Chhattisgarh State Climate Change Centre, the implementation of climate programmes across the state, the formation of the State Climate Change Authority, and the execution of carbon credit-based initiatives. Departmental secretaries also reviewed detailed strategies for implementing sector-wise climate action plans.
Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Climate Change Department, Smt. Richa Sharma presented an overview of climate change, its major causes, and the adverse effects already being observed in Chhattisgarh. Senior forest officials, including PCCF Shri Srinivas Rao and APCCF Shri Sunil Mishra, were present.
*Chhattisgarh Ranked First in India in Tree Cover Growth*
Officials of the State Climate Change Centre informed that several climate-focused initiatives are underway, with large-scale plantation drives being a key component. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, nearly 7 crore saplings have been planted. Under the Kisan Vriksh Mitra Yojana, 3.68 crore saplings have been planted. According to ISFR 2025, Chhattisgarh recorded the highest increase in forest and tree cover in the country, adding 683 square kilometres, securing the top national rank. Officials said the public is encouraged to adopt electric vehicles, while solar pumps are being distributed to farmers to promote the use of clean energy.
Officials informed that the state is actively promoting organic farming. During 2025–26, organic cultivation was undertaken on around 55,050 hectares of land. More than 300 dams in the state have undergone hydrological planning, while sedimentation surveys of 24 major and medium reservoirs have already been completed. Officials also shared suggestions for establishing a dedicated Climate Change Knowledge Centre in the state.
Representatives from the departments of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Forest and Climate Change, Water Resources, Urban Administration, Transport, Commerce and Industry, Minerals, Energy, Health and Family Welfare, Revenue and Disaster Management, Women and Child Development, and Panchayat & Rural Development presented departmental updates on implementation of climate change action plan.
Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Smt. Niharika Barik Singh; Principal Secretary, Law and Legislative Affairs Department, Smt. Sushma Sawant; Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Smt. Shahla Nigar; Secretary, Mineral Resources Department and Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri P. Dayanand; Secretary, Urban Administration and Development Department and Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri Basavaraju S.; Secretary, Commerce and Industry Department, Shri Rajat Kumar; Secretary, Energy Department, Dr. Rohit Yadav; Secretary, Transport Department, Shri S. Prakash; Secretary, Housing and Environment Department, Shri Ankit Anand; Special Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Ms. Iffat Ara; along with officials from the State Planning Commission, NABARD, Centre for Environment Education, Indian Institute of Science, the Agrometeorology Department, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, and various departments of the State Government were present.
