Lok Sabha Question No. 2198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Afforestation in Ganga Basin States
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2198 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## Afforestation in Ganga Basin States

## 2198.   SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that afforestation is a very important task for conservation of river Ganga;
- (b) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Government  has  got  a  DPR  prepared  by  Forest  Research Institute  (FRI)  Dehradun  for  afforestation  in  Ganga  basin  States  of  Uttarakhand,  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand; and
- (c) if  so,  the  number  of  hectares  of  land  for  which  DPRs  have  been  prepared  in  these States and their estimated cost?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) Forests  are  important  for conservation  of  rivers,  including  the  Ganga.  The  tree  canopy acts  as  a  natural  sponge,  absorbing  rainwater,  allowing  it  to  percolate  into  the  ground, recharging aquifers.. The forest cover also reduces soil erosion and river siltation as roots of trees bind the soil, preventing it from being washed away into the river.
- (b) The  ICFRE-Forest  Research  Institute,  Dehradun,  has  prepared  Detailed  Project  Report (DPR) on forestry interventions for  river Ganga, for the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, with the objective of afforestation on forest land,  agricultural  land  and  urban  landscapes  in  five  states  viz.  Uttarakhand,  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- (c) The  details  of  area  in  hectares  (Ha)  and  the  estimated  cost  (in  Rupees)  are  placed  at Annexure.

*****

Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Un-starred Question No 2198 due for reply  on  05.08.2024.  By  Shri  Ujjwal  Raman  Singh  regarding  Afforestation  in  Ganga  Basin States

| S. No.   | State         | Natural landscape   | Natural landscape   | Agricultural landscape   | Agricultural landscape   | Urban landscape   | Urban landscape     |
|----------|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|
|          |               | Area (ha)           | Cost (Rs. in crore) | Area (ha)                | Cost (Rs. in crore)      | Area (ha)         | Cost (Rs. in crore) |
| 1.       | Uttarakhand   | 27,303              | 540.82              | 15,180                   | 53.13                    | 1,406             | 134.24              |
| 2.       | Uttar Pradesh | 3,182               | 90.13               | 5,354                    | 18.72                    | 1,660             | 65.12               |
| 3.       | Bihar         | 4,717               | 207.56              | 20,852                   | 72.98                    | 98                | 12.06               |
| 4.       | Jharkhand     | 816                 | 40.20               | 200                      | 0.70                     | 151               | 9.88                |
| 5.       | West Bengal   | 19,382              | 201.49              | 4,200                    | 14.17                    | 3,250             | 127.61              |
|          | Total         | 55,400              | 1,080.20            | 45,786                   | 159.70                   | 6,565             | 348.91              |