₹100 crore to strengthen T.N. forest field workforce; 200 schools, five colleges to become Blue-Green campuses

Tamil Nadu Forest Department field staff at Gudalur. Representational image. File | Photo Credit: M. Sathyamoorthy Tamil Nadu Forests Minister R.V. Ranjith Kumar on Monday (September 7, 2026) announced in the State Legislative Assembly that a Forest Field Workforce Revitalisation Scheme would be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹100.72 crore over five years, to strengthen the capacity of field personnel in forest protection, wildlife conservation, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.He also announced a ₹60.58-crore Forest Fire Management Plan to be implemented over five years, in view of the increasing incidence of forest fires and the need for preventive and mitigation measures. A total of 25 ‘Nature Parks’ will also be established across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas at a cost of ₹10 crore, aimed at promoting environmental awareness, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, Mr. Kumar announced. Other forest-related announcements include induction training for 1,947 newly recruited forest personnel at ₹12 crore, a Centre for Tree Taxonomy and Forest Products Analysis at ₹5 crore, training of 43 naturalist trainees at ₹4.2 crore, a mobile wildlife forensic and disease diagnostic laboratory at ₹1 crore, and a genomic study and genetic improvement project for palmyrah at ₹50 lakh. District Biodiversity Symbols will be identified at ₹5 lakh, and five solar/electric boats will be introduced at Pichavaram at ₹2 crore to promote eco-friendly tourism.Blue-Green campusesMeanwhile, Environment Minister V.K. Rajeev announced that 200 government and government-aided schools and five government colleges will be transformed into Blue-Green Campuses every year at an estimated cost of ₹53.75 crore. The initiative is aimed at creating awareness among students about climate change and the measures needed to address it.Mr. Rajeev said that a City Biodiversity Index will be developed for all 24 municipal corporations at a cost of ₹2 crore to promote and conserve urban biodiversity and improve climate resilience. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will establish five Emergency Response Centres at a cost of ₹5 crore to strengthen real-time environmental monitoring, early warning, and rapid response during environmental emergencies.Mr. Rajeev said the TNPCB will set up 80 sensor-based continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations across the State at a cost of ₹8 crore. Other announcements include five mobile environmental monitoring vehicles at ₹7.5 crore, six Climate Resilience Centres at ₹6 crore. Published - September 07, 2026 02:10 pm IST