Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet today approved a proposal to create green cover along the banks of major rivers such as the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarini and Rusikulya to rejuvenate the water bodies.

The plantation work will be taken up at a cost of Rs 448 crore within one km width along both sides of the major rivers and their tributaries and distributaries in 2019-20.

Sources said Rs 415 crore will be spent for plantation activities and Rs 33 crore for non-plantation activities.

The leftover area of Mahanadi, Tel and lb will also be taken up during 2019-20, said a statement released by the government. The scheme is proposed to be implemented in five years (2018-19 to 2022-23).

At the state level, the progress of implementation of the green mission will be monitored by a 12-member committee led by the chief secretary. Similarly, regular monitoring will be taken up at district and block levels.

The State Cabinet also approved a proposal for replacement of existing conventional streetlights with energy efficient smart LED streetlights in urban local bodies on Project Management Consultant (PMC) model. A total of 2.38 lakh streetlight points will be replaced under the street lighting programme.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Works department for tender work for construction of a 100-seat government medical college at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district and a new building of Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack.