One million teak saplings are to be planted every year, CM announces

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar | Photo credit: File Photo

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday announced that the state government will launch the ‘Teak Wealth’ programme, under which one billion teak saplings will be planted every year on farm and government land along both sides of government roads.

After inaugurating the 111th Jayanti Mahotsava Shivaratri Rajendra Swami at the Suttur Mutt here, Mr. Shivakumar said the forest department would provide saplings while farmers or land owners would be responsible for their maintenance.

Under the proposed scheme, 70% of the proceeds from teak trees would go to farmers or landowners and 30% to the government, he said.

“This will be a unique initiative based on collaboration between the government and landowners to increase the state’s forest wealth. It will create significant green wealth for Karnataka over the next 25 years,” he said.

The Forest Service and private nurseries would be encouraged to grow on a large scale. Forest officials have expressed the view that this initiative will help increase the green cover of the state, he said.

Recalling the initiative during former Chief Minister SM Krishna’s tenure to plant five million saplings with the support of Adichunchanagiri Mutt seer Balagangadharanath Swami, Mr. Shivakumar said the proposed program was conceived along similar lines.

Mr. Shivakumar said that recently in a meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister in Chennai, he explained that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu as well as Karnataka.

“Following this, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu came forward for discussions. Discussions were also held with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the Tungabhadra issue. The Center said it will formulate a new policy for desilting the Almatti and KRS reservoirs. For the first time, the Chief Ministers of the three states met on a historic development issue. It is an inter-state irrigation issue.

Recalling the contribution of Shivaratri Rajendra Mahaswami, Mr. Shivakumar said that the seer revolutionized education at a young age and found fulfillment through the tradition of Trividha Dasoha.

He said the mutts had contributed significantly to the educational revolution in South India and played an important role in Karnataka becoming an educational hub.

Defending the state government’s guarantee schemes, Mr Shivakumar said Karnataka was spending ₹20,000 crore on free electricity for agricultural pump sets and ₹52,000 crore on five guarantee schemes.

“Opposition parties initially criticized the guarantee schemes, but other states later followed Karnataka’s model. Maharashtra also announced guarantees but failed to keep its word. A true leader is one who fulfills promises. Our government has kept its word,” he said.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 21:02 IST