Lok Sabha Question No. 1978 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Plantation in Metropolitan Cities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N

## NO.1978

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

## Plantation in Metropolitan Cities

## 1978. SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  plantation  in  metropolitan  cities  in  the country through recognized NGO's under social forestry schemes;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)    the  details  of  the  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 ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)  to (c) 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. In  specific  respect  to  urban  areas,  the  Ministry  is  implementing  the  Nagar  Van Yojana the scheme initiated 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  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 2020-21, at a cost of Rs. 27.91 crore.

The following additional 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  and  wildlife,  various  laws  including the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife
2. 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 Ministry 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. 3936.41 crores till 2020-21 under NAP since its launching year 2000.Under GIM an amount of about Rs. 455crore has been released to States/UTs since 2015-16 to 2020-21.
- iii. Urban forestry is a permissible activity under the provisions of Compensatory Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made there under. The Government of India has disbursed  an  amount  of  Rs.  48477.77  crore  from  National  Fund  to  31  State funds as share of respective States as per Compensatory Fund Act, 2016.
- iv. As per information received from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), 1864 No. of parks over 3794 acres of land have been developed in the Mission cities.
- v. 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.

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