Lok Sabha Question No. 1667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Cutting of Trees on Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1667 ANSWERED ON 05 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## CUTTING OF TREES ON HIGHWAYS

1667. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  has submitted a proposal to the various District Green Committees to cut down  trees  near  the  flyovers  for  the  identified  Elevated  Expressway Projects in States where the young, dense trees were planted by the Forest Department with funds from the NHAI, along with MoUs signed by the NHAI during the last ten years;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  present  status  thereof  along  with  funds sanctioned/spent  therefor  for  each  work  and  the  results  achieved therein; and
- (c) whether the NHAI is ready to provide funds for the trees in a 1:10 ratio and if so, the details of funds provided thereof to States and the steps being taken to stop undertaking pay-and remove trees activities, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  The  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  constituted  District  Green Committee  to  regulate the felling of trees in public land vide G.O.(Ms).No:39 dated 02.07.2021. In tune with this government order,

NHAI approaches the District Green Committee for obtaining permission for the felling of trees for highways projects. (b)  The  details  of  all  proposals  sent  to  District  Green  Committees  in Tamil  Nadu  along  with  funds  sanctioned  for  each  work  is  attached as Annexure-A. District Green Committee. Project wise details are

(c  )  NHAI  has  provided  Rs.  65.18  crore  to  Forest  Department  Tamil Nadu  for  raising  plantation  in  1:10  ratio  as  per  recommendation  of available in Annexure-A.

ANNEXURE-A

ANNEXURE-A  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (B)  &  (C)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1667 ON  05 TH   DECEMBER,  2024 ASKED  SHRI  SURESH  KUMAR  SHETKAR  REGARDING  'CUTTING  OF TREES ON HIGHWAYS"

Details of Proposals approved for raising plantation in 1:10 ratio as per recommendation of District Green Committee for construction of NH Projects in Tamil Nadu

|   Sl. No . | Name of Project/ NH Stretch                                                                      | Length (Km)   | No. of trees cut / to be cut   | Amount deposited with Forest Dept. towards for planting of tress in 1:10 ratio (Rs.)   | Status / Results of such plantation                                                                                    |
|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          1 | Six laning of Krishnagiri - Walajahpet section of NH-48 (old NH-46) from Km. 0/000 to Km.148/300 | 148.30 0      | 4532 1                         | 558,847,90 0                                                                           | Amount deposited to Forest Department. By utilizing the current monsoon, planting by Forest Department is in progress. |
|          2 | Four laning of Tambaram to Tindivanam section of NH-32 (Old NH-45) from                          | 93.000        | 2273                           | 30,159,520                                                                             | Amount has been remitted to Forest Department.                                                                         |

|    | Km. 28+000 to Km. 121.000                                                                        |    |      |            | Further plantation will be raised by Forest Department.                                                                        |
|----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----|------|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  3 | Four Laning of Mamallapuram to Mugaiyur section of NH- 332A from Km. 0+000 to Km. 31+000 (PKG-I) | 31 | 4000 | 22,512,100 | Amount has been remitted to Green Committee account. Further, plantation will be raised by Forest department.                  |
|  4 | Four Laning of Mugaiyur to Marakkanam section of NH-332A from Km. 31+000 to Km. 62+000 (PKG-II)  | 31 | 3500 | 32,500,000 | Amount has been remitted to Green Committee account. Further, plantation will be raised by Forest department.                  |
|  5 | Thoppur Mettur Bhavani Erode section of NH 544H                                                  | 85 | 1054 | 6,500,000  | Amount deposited to Forest Department for planting 10540 nos. of plants and plantation is yet to be done by Forest department. |

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|   6 | 4 lane Bangalore to Chennai Expressway (Walajahpet to Arakkonam) from Km 180/000 to Km 204/500 (Phase III) Package-II      |   24.500 |   3725 | 1,170,410   | Amount has been remitted to DFO, Vellore                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   7 | 4 lane Bangalore to Chennai Expressway (Kanchepuram to Sriperumbudur) from Km 230/000 to Km 261/705 (Phase III) Package-IV |   31.705 |    478 | 170,510     | Amount has been remitted to DFO, Chengalapttu                                                                                                                                                                              |
|   8 | Double Tier 4-lane Elevated Corridor from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal                                                      |   20.935 |   1658 | -           | An amount of Rs.4.69 crore has to be remitted to Forest Department to carry out 1:10 planting.                                                                                                                             |
|   9 | Access controlled Highway from Km17.56 to Km 61.540 of Chennai-Tirupati section of NH 716                                  |   44     |   4218 | -           | District Green Committee has requested to pay Rs.100 per plant as security deposit for 5 years. After ensuring the establishment of plantation in the project stretch, amount will get refund. Planting is in the scope of |

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|    |                                                                                                                           |       |     |    | Concessionaire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-----|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10 | 4 lane Bangalore to Chennai Expressway (Gudipala to Walajajhpet from Km 156/000 to Km 180/000 (Phase III) Package-I       | 24    | 183 | -  | Planting 1830 trees is in the scope of Concessionaire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 11 | 4 lane Bangalore to Chennai Expressway (Arakkona m to Kancheepuram) from Km 204/500 to Km 230/000 (Phase III) Package-III | 25.5  |  20 | -  | Planting of 200 trees is in the scope of Concessionaire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 12 | Four Laning of Oddanchatram to Madathukulam section of NH-83                                                              | 45.38 |  21 | -  | The trees were cut down for the construction of project and as a part of compensator y afforestation, trees were planted in the ratio of 1:10 under the scope of Concessionaire and the status report have been submitted to District Administration vide PIU Dindigul letter No.1614 |

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|   13 | Four laning of Vadugapatti to Therkuvenganallur section of NH-744                 |   35.600 |   588 | -   | The trees were cut down for the construction of project and as a part of compensator y afforestation, trees were being planted in the ratio of 1:10                               |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   14 | Four laning of Thirumangalam - Vadugapatti to section of NH-744                   |     36   |  2147 | -   | The trees were cut down for the construction of project and as a part of compensator y afforestation, trees were being planted in the ratio of 1:10 under scope of EPC Contractor |
|   15 | Fourt laning of Ulundurpet Padalur section of NH-38- Elimination of blackspot VUP |      1.4 |    13 | -   | The trees were cut down for the construction of project and as a part of compensator y afforestation, trees were planted in the ratio of 1:10 under scope of Contractor           |

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| 16   | Access controlled Greenfield Highway of 4 lane with paved shoulder from Marakkanam to Koonimedu (Design Chainage Km. 62+000 to Km. 77+200) of NH- 332A in the state of Tamil Nadu under HAM (PKG-III)   | 15.200   | 2648   | -            | Tree enumeration has been completed. Further, tree felling proposal has been submitted to Distrct Green Committee for obtaining permission.   |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17   | Access controlled Greenfield Highway of 4 lane with paved shoulder from Koonimedu to Azhiyur (Design Chainage Km.0 to K77+200 to Km. 108.047) of NH-332A in the state of Tamil Nadu under HAM (PKG-IV)  | 30.847   | 40     | -            | Tree enumeration has been completed. Further, tree felling proposal has been submitted to Distrct Green Committee for obtaining permission.   |
|      | Grand Total                                                                                                                                                                                             | 723.36 7 | 7188 7 | 651,860,44 0 |                                                                                                                                               |

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