Lok Sabha Question No. 2046 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Plantation in Cities
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. 2046

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2021

## Plantation in Cities

## 2046. 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 of the country through recognized Non-Governmental Organisations under social forestry schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the various initiatives started by the Government for protection and development of forests in various metropolitian cities of the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)  Yes  Sir.  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  encourages plantation in the country including various metropolitan cities through programmes  and  schemes  such  as  Nagar  Van  Yojana,  School  Nursery  Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA),  National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP),  National  Mission  for  a Green India (GIM),  etc. which promotes urban forestry, tree plantation on vacant lands  and  bunds  on  farm  lands  etc.  by  involving  local  communities,  NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.
- (c) The  following  steps  taken  by  the  Government  contribute  to  protection  and development of forest areas 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. The MoEFCC  encourages plantation/ afforestation through people's participation under Nagar Van Yojana(NVY) and School Nursery Yojana. The total estimated cost for creation of 200 Nagar Vans under Nagar Van Yojna is Rs.415.00 crore for the period of 2020-21 to 2024-25. iv. Urban forestry is a permissible activity under the provisions of Compensatory  Fund  Act,  2016  and  the  Rules  made  thereunder.  The Government of India has disbursed an amount of Rs. 47,872.31 crore from National  Fund  to  30  State  funds  as  share  of  respective  States  as  per Compensatory Fund Act, 2016. v. 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. 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

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- vi. budgets.