Lok Sabha Question No. 63 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Green Highways Policy
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 63

ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2015

## GREEN HIGHWAYS POLICY

## *63. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA: SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  recently  launched  the  Green  Highways  (Plantation  and Maintenance) Policy, 2015, if so, the details thereof and the funds allocated and targets fixed for implementing the policy;
- (b) whether the Government has acquired land for the highways and has set up monitoring/executing agencies for the purpose, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether any mechanism has been instituted for accountability under the policy including undertaking punitive measures against the planting agencies for not maintaining the green belt, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  63  ANSWERED  ON  03.12.2015  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA AND SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI REGARDING GREEN HIGHWAY POLICY

- (a) The Government has recently launched the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, 2015 to develop eco-friendly National Highways with the participation of community, farmers, NGOs, private sector, government agencies and the Forest Department with the following objectives:
- 1) To evolve a policy frame work for plantation along National Highways;
- 2) To reduce the impacts of air pollution and dust as trees and shrubs are known to be natural sink for air pollutants;
- 3) To provide much needed shade on glaring hot roads during summer;
- 4) To reduce the impact of ever increasing noise pollution caused due to increase in number of vehicles;
- 5) To arrest soil erosion at the embankment slopes;
- 6) To Prevent glare from the headlight of incoming vehicles;
- 7) To Moderate the effect of wind and incoming radiation;
- 8) To create Employment opportunities for local people;

The Ministry, vide circular No. RW/NH-33044/49/2015/S&R(R), dated 28 th August 2015 has communicated that henceforth, for the work related to greening of highways, 1% of civil work costs should be added separately while arriving at the Total Project Cost (TPC) of  National  Highways  being  developed  on  EPC/BOT  mode.  This  'Green  Highways Fund' will be set apart for Highway Plantation and its Maintenance.

Plantations are an integral part of highway development. Hence, no separate targets are fixed for plantations along highways.

- (b) Land for  plantations  along  highways  has  not  been  acquired  separately.  Plantations  are raised on the available land within the Right of Way.

The  Indian  Highways  Management  Company,  Ltd  has  been  assigned  the  job  of empanelment of planting agencies, and monitoring of plantations. NHAI will act as Fund Manager for the Green Highways fund.

- (c) In  case  of  default  on  the  part  of  the  Contractor/Concessionaire  with  respect  to  plantation  or maintenance  of  plantations,  action  will  be  taken  as  per  the  conditions  of  the  Concession Agreement/Contract Agreement or MOU with the concerned agency.

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