Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik presents an award to a city student at the function held to observe World Environment Day. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, June 6: The Orissa government has initiated an integrated coastal zone management project to ensure protection of ecological system along the shore.

Making the plan public while addressing a state-level function organised to mark the World Environment Day yesterday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the integrated coastal zone management project, that would minimise the impact of natural hazards, would be taken up with assistance from the World Bank.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik said steps were being taken under Orissa Environment Management Fund Programme for ameliorating and restoring degraded environment by massive plantation in Talcher, Angul, Jharsuguda and other industrial areas. As many as 7,500 eco clubs have come into existence in 30 districts of Orissa, he said.

Yesterday, the chief minister gave away this year’s Prakruti Mitra and Prakruti Bandhu awards to 36 persons. The chief minister said that Prakruti Mitra and Prakruti Bandhu awards would be extended to each block in the state. Fourteen students received awards for their paintings and three for participating in eco exhibition.

The World Environment Day was also celebrated at Raj Bhavan yesterday, where NGO Prerana organised Green Fest’ 08. Inaugurating the function at Raj Bhavan, Governor M.C. Bhandare said all Raj Bhavan employees would be involved in a massive plantation programme in the Bhavan colony and a dispensary would be set up in two months’ time.