Lok Sabha Question No. 4072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Promotion of Plantation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ajay Nishad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO. 4072

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## Promotion of Plantation

## 4072. SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote plantation in various metropolitan cities in the country through recognized Non-Governmental Organisations under Social Forestry Schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  various  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  for  conservation  and development of forest in various metropolitan cities in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) to  (c)  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change(MoEFCC)  encourages plantation  in  the  country  including  various  metropolitan  cities  though  there  is  no specific social forestry scheme for plantation in metropolitan cities through recognized  Non-Government  Organisation.  These  schemes  include  Nagar  Van Yojana,  School  Nursery  Yojana,  afforestation  under  Compensatory  Afforestation Fund Management  and  Planning Authority (CAMPA),  National Afforestation Programme  (NAP),  National  Mission  for  a  Green  India  (GIM)  etc.,  and  are implemented to promote afforestation, urban forestry, tree plantation on vacant lands and  bunds  on  farm  lands  etc.  by  involving  local  communities,  NGOs,  educational institutions, local bodies, etc.

In  specific  respect  to  urban  areas,  the  MoEFCC  has  encouraged  tree  planting/ afforestation under the Nagar Van Udyan Yojana. An amount of Rs. Rs. 51.24 crore (for 46 Nagar Van Udyans) was released to various States during 2015-16 to 201819.

The scheme Nagar Van Udyan has since been re-structured and approved during the year 2020 to be implemented as Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) for creation of Nagar Van (city  forest)  in  urban  areas  over  a  period  of  five  years  at  a  total  estimated  cost  of Rs.415.00 crore for under the National Fund of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). A total of 18 Nagar Van projects in 12 States have been approved for implementation under NVY during the year 202021, at a cost of Rs. 27.91 crore, so far.

The following additional steps taken by the Government contribute to conservation and development of forests in the country including in the metropolitan cities:

- i. For preservation and protection of forest & wildlife, various laws including the  Forest  (Conservation)  Act  1980,  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927,  Wildlife Protection Act  1972,  and  other  central/state laws  as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented  by  the respective  State  Government  /UT Administration. The Ministry also provides financial supports to the States /UTs under Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme for protection against forest fire.
- ii. The  MoEFCC  is  implementing  two  major  afforestation  schemes  namely National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP)  for  tree  plantation  in  degraded forests  through  people's  participation  and  National  Mission  for  a  Green India  (GIM),  under  which  in  addition  to  other  sub-missions,  there  is  a specific sub-mission for enhancing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas. An area over 2 million hectare was sanctioned for taking up afforestation in the  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  with  an  investment  of  about  Rs.  3896 crores till 2019-20 under NAP since its launching year 2000 and under GIM an  amount  of  about  Rs.  343  crore  has  been  released  to  States/UTs  since 2015-16 to 2019-20.
- iii. Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT) Mission launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) also aims for increasing the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks). As per information received from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), 1776 No. of parks over 3500 acres of land have been developed in the Mission cities.
- iv. Further,  tree  plantation,  being  a  multi-departmental,  multi-agency  activity, are also being taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources  of  other  ministries/  organizations  and  also  through  State  Plan budgets. Ministry also advised States/UTs to take up tree plantation under various schemes, and on all available vacant land within and outside forest areas by involving local communities, educational institutions, NGOs, local bodies etc .

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