Lok Sabha Question No. 212 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Green Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Tapir Gao

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Ministry to ensure environmental sustainability while constructing the National Highways (NHs);
- (b)  the  details  of  the  schemes  to  promote  Green  Highways  in  the country;
- (c) the total length of NHs constructed in North Eastern States between 2004-13; and
- (d) the total length of NHs constructed from 2014 onwards?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 212 ANSWERED ON 03 RD  AUGUST, 2023

## GREEN HIGHWAYS

*212. SHRI TAPIR GAO:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 212 FOR ANSWER ON 03 RD  AUGUST 2023 ASKED BY SHRI TAPIR GAO REGARDING GREEN HIGHWAYS.

- (a)  &  (b)  Steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  environment sustainability while constructing the National Highways (NHs) as under:
- (i) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) conducted a study  through  The  Energy  and  Resources  Institute  to  estimate carbon emissions from NHs sector and to suggest interventions for making climate resilient highway infrastructure. NHAI has also published the first Sustainability Report as per Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) norms, which captures the initiatives of NHAI for protecting and conserving the environment.
- (ii)  MoRTH  vide  Circular  No.  RH/NH-33044/18/2020-S&R  (P&B) dated  14.12.2020  has  issued  the  guidelines  on  use  of  new  / alternate  materials  and  technology  in  construction  of  National Highways. NHAI has also issued policy circular dated 02.06.2022, mandating the use of New / Alternative Material and technology in construction of Highways.

## (iii) Promotion of use of Green Technologies such as :

- Steel slag in base & sub-base layer
- Cement treated sub base
- Reclaimed asphalt
- Inert material for landfill
- Industrial Waste (Phosphor-gypsum)
- Construction & Demolition waste
- Alternate material like stones, gravels and municipal waste
- Waste Plastic

(iv)  MoRTH  vide  Circular  No.  RW/NH-33044/01/2019-S&R  (P&B) RSCE -Pt.1 dated 18.04.2022 has issued guidelines to use fly ash in road/flyover embankment construction on National Highways.

- (v)  Green  Highways  (Plantation,  Transplantation,  Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015 was launched in September, 2015.

(vi) Plantation and Transplantation initiatives:

- Total 373.20 lakh plants planted since 2016 on available RoW.
- Total 64,466 mature trees transplanted so far.

(vii) Use of renewable energy for operation of Toll Plaza and some locations of Highways by way of installing the solar plate on the roof of the toll plaza and vacant place of Highways respectively.

(viii) As per MoEF&CC Study 'An Assessment of Avoided CO2 Emissions During Construction, Maintenance and Operation of National Highways', the  saving  of  natural  resources  and  carbon  sequestration  from  20 stretches/corridors is as under:

- Overall  consumption  of  fuel  due  to  the  operation  of  all  these stretches over a 20-year period is expected to be 19% lower with respect to the BAU situation (a situation when the NH were either not present or were narrower than the present)
- Over  the  same  period,   CO2  emissions  on  these  stretches  is expected to be 25.19 million tonnes lower.
- Avenue  plantation  and  compensatory  afforestation  done  post construction  of  the  highways  can  sequester  584.27  thousand tonne of CO2 in 20 years

## (ix) Amrit Sarovars:

- Total 433 'Amrit Sarovars' have been constructed along National Highways  for  augmenting  the  ground  water  regime  of  the  area including micro climate of the area.

(x)  Wildlife Mitigation structure /Passage

- Construction  of  wildlife  friendly  specified  structures  for  the conservation of wildlife habitat for the stretches passing through any protected area under WPA 1972 or any Eco Sensitive Zone/Eco Fragile areas.

(c) & (d) The total length of NHs constructed in North Eastern States between 2004-13 is 2794.455 km and from 2014 onward is 8819 km.

*****