Crores spent, crores of saplings lost: ‘Green Gujarat’ drive under scrutiny after mass tree deaths

A large-scale plantation drive in Gujarat has come under sharp scrutiny after official data revealed that millions of saplings planted under the state’s ‘Green Gujarat’ initiative have withered within months, raising questions over implementation and accountability.

Details presented in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly indicate that around 2.5 crore saplings planted across several districts failed to survive, despite substantial public expenditure on afforestation.

The highest number of saplings that dried up was reported in districts such as Banaskantha, Kutch, Tapi and Morbi, according to the data. Figures show that 15.13 lakh saplings failed in Banaskantha, 21.4 lakh in Kutch, 6.24 lakh in Tapi and 3.72 lakh in Morbi.

The findings have prompted criticism from environmentalists, who claim that the “Green Gujarat” campaign has largely remained confined to official records, with a wide gap between reported plantation figures and ground realities.

Despite repeated plantation drives, experts say the focus has remained on planting numbers rather than ensuring survival and maintenance. The state has allocated ₹3,560 crore to the Forest and Environment Department in the 2026–27 budget, yet the high mortality rate of saplings has raised concerns over the effectiveness of spending.

Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities in the implementation of the programme, claiming that the department has prioritised contracts with private nurseries over long-term care of saplings.

Officials, however, maintain that plantation efforts are being carried out on a large scale, though they have not publicly detailed the reasons behind the high rate of sapling loss.