Miyawaki Forest to Come Up Along Arpa Riverbank in Bilaspur, 15,000 Saplings to Create Dense Urban Green Cover

Raipur: In a major push for environmental conservation, the Chhattisgarh government has launched an ambitious afforestation project along the Arpa River in Bilaspur. The initiative, undertaken on the directives of Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, aims to expand the city’s green cover and strengthen sustainability.

The project is being implemented by the Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation (Kota Project Division) in collaboration with South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). A dense urban forest will be developed along the riverbank using the Miyawaki technique.

Under the plan, around 15,000 saplings will be planted across nearly 1.5 hectares of land located behind the Commissioner’s office in Konni. The process includes digging one-metre-deep trenches and preparing enriched soil to ensure high-density growth of native plant species.

The Miyawaki method, a Japanese afforestation technique, is known for rapidly developing forests in urban areas. Trees grown using this method can grow up to 10 times faster and create forests that are 30 times denser than conventional plantations. It also significantly boosts biodiversity.

Officials noted that the Forest Development Corporation has previously achieved success in Bilaspur by developing a Miyawaki forest with around 94,000 plants in collaboration with NTPC Sipat.

The upcoming urban forest along the Arpa River is expected to help regulate local temperatures, improve air quality, and provide a healthier living environment for residents while revitalizing the city’s natural ecosystem.