Lok Sabha Question No. 266 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Green Corridors
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Janardan Mishra, Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*2 66

ANSWERED ON 11 . 07.201 9

## GREEN CORRIDORS

†*266.    SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  or  proposes  to  formulate  any  scheme  to  devel corridors in small cities and towns located on the banks of small rivers; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) if not, the scheme to be formulated in future by the Government to prevent the erosion

- banks of small rivers and conserve rain water through schemes like green corridor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (c ) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (C)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*266  TO  BE  ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  11.07.2019 REGARDING  'GREEN CORRIDORS'  RAISED  BY  SHRI  JANARDAN  MISHRA  AND SHRI RODMAL NAGAR.

The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  assigned  a  study  to Indian Council of Forest Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun to undertake a study for  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  rejuvenation  of  major  rivers  in  the country through forestry interventions.  In conformity with the decision taken in the Ministry, the ICFRE through its regional institutes has identified thirteen rivers (viz. Beas, Chenab, Jhelum,  Ravi,  Sutlej,  Yamuna,  Brahmaputra,  Mahanadi,  Narmada,  Krishna,  Godavari, Cauvery, Luni) belonging to nine rivers basins for DPR preparation for their rejuvenation through forestry interventions following holistic approach.

The broad objective of the study is to rejuvenate major river systems of the country through forestry interventions, while the specific objectives are to:

1. Review and assess the existing situation of river  basin,  past  river  management  & implications and lessons learned,
2. Identify and involve stakeholders and build consensus for design and development of strategies and approaches.
3. Assess ongoing forestry activities  of  the  states  engaged  in  the  river  management programme(s).
4. Assess  potential  and  possibilities  for  generation,  improvement,  and  restoration  of forest catchments.
5. Assess the conditions of riparian forests and potential of biological filters.
6. Examine the possibility of allied and other income generation activities.
7. Assess the potential of cultivation of medicinal plants and restoration of conservation areas and identify appropriate species and suitable sites.
8. Identify research and monitoring needs and develop a strategy for future research and monitoring, and
9. Formulate strategies, develop approaches, and plan activities for project implementation.

An important component under Namami Gange Programme of Ministry of Jal Shakti is intensive plantation along the banks of river Ganga & its tributaries, which will act as a green corridor in small cities / towns located on the banks of Ganga basin, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) supports the State Forest Departments to plant trees as per the

Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  'Forestry  Intervention  for  Ganga'  prepared  by  Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun to carry out plantation in the Ganga river scape. As per the DPR, the plantation is being carried out in all micro-watershed in Uttarakhand and a 5 km buffer all along the bank line/ river course in the States of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, while a 2 km buffer area on either side of the selected tributaries in the above said States. Since the launch of programme, NMCG has sanctioned plantation projects worth Rs. 269 cr. for  plantation  over  22000  ha.  land  in  the  five  Ganga  States  of  Uttarakhand,  UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The green corridor being developed by implementing the DPR for 'Forestry Intervention for Ganga' prepared by FRI, Dehradun, will prevent the bank soil erosion in the Ganga river and its tributaries and will also conserve the rainwater.

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