Maharashtra Budget 2026: CM Fadnavis says, 'Govt to plant 300 crore trees over next seven years'

Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister

Green boost

The Maharashtra government has set a target to increase the state’s forest cover to 33 per cent, while the current forest cover stands around 21-23 per cent. To achieve this goal, the government would ideally require the plantation of 225 crore trees, but the Mahayuti government has announced an ambitious plan to plant 300 crore trees over the next seven years.

Climate-based plantation

The plantation drive will be carried out in a scientific manner, keeping in mind different agro-climatic zones across the state, according to the chief minister. The focus will be on identifying areas where tree cover is low and where forests can be expanded.

Opposition reacts to budget

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Friday strongly criticised the state Budget, accusing the government of pushing the state into a debt trap. He said the ruling BJP may not remain in power till 2047 and alleged that the government was piling up borrowings while presenting an ambitious long-term vision. Referring to the tree announcement, Thackeray questioned where the land for such a massive plantation drive would come from and whether the government had identified specific areas for the project.

GCC expansion

In the first phase, the Maharashtra government is working on the implementation of the GCC in Mumbai-Pune and even established a development centre in Mumbai. But, as the process moves ahead, in the coming years, the state plans to expand these cities like Nagpur, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The idea is to have balanced regional development across Maharashtra.

Ladki Bahin compensation

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde maintained that this government has delivered on promises, and at the appropriate time, the monthly financial assistance paid to Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries will be increased to R2100, from the existing R1500.

Sunetra Pawar remembers Ajit

In an interaction with the media, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said that her husband and predecessor Ajit Pawar was actively working on the state budget till January 27, a day before the plane crash in Baramati in which he died. She thanked CM Devendra Fadnavis for attributing the budget to Pawar, saying that announcing a memorial and an award in the late finance minister’s name would be a true tribute to his legacy.