Lok Sabha Question No. 3872 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Underutilization of Funds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3872

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## Underutilization of Funds

## 3872. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  funds  allocated  for  urban  afforestation  under  Central  schemes  remain underutilised, if so, the details of funds utilised and the reasons for under utilisation of said funds;
- (b) whether monitoring mechanisms exist to verify survival of planted saplings beyond plantation announcements, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether encroachment and illegal land-use change have reduced green zones in the National Capital Region, if so, the enforcement action taken in this regard;
- (d) whether  climate  resilience  and  heat  mitigation  strategies  include  mandatory  urban forest creation, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  pollution-control  measures  focusing  only  on  emergency  restrictions  have failed  without  long-term  ecological  planning and  if  so,  the  Government's  response thereto; and
- (f) whether similar green cover crises exist in other metropolitan cities, if so, the details of assessment conducted city-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b) The Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) was launched for afforestation in urban and periurban areas through the  creation  of  Nagar  Vans and Nagar Vatikas  in cities having Municipal Corporations,  Municipal  Councils,  Municipalities  or  other Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with the objective of enhancing green cover and biodiversity, and providing recreational spaces to urban residents. The scheme is implemented by the State Forest Departments with financial assistance from the  National  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning Authority (National CAMPA). Details of funds released under the scheme are given in Annexure-I.

Monitoring  of  plantations  is  undertaken  through  field  inspections  and  intercircle verification by State/UT officials, submission of physical and financial progress reports, geo-tagged photographs and . kml files, and third-party audits. Corrective  maintenance,  where  required,  is  undertaken  by  the  concerned State/UT authorities based on survival assessments. Forest resources and tree cover in the country are also assessed periodically by the Forest Survey of India

(FSI), using satellite data and field-based information. The results are published biennially in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). In addition to these, several States/UTs have also developed online monitoring systems.

- (c) Protection of land, including prevention of encroachment on green zones and forest land, falls within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments and Union  Territory  Administrations.  Detection  and  removal  of  encroachments, across  the  country  is  a  continuous  process  undertaken  by  the  concerned authorities in accordance with applicable laws, including the Forest (Conservation)  Act,  1980,  the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927,  and  other  relevant statutes. The Central Government issues guidelines and advisories from time to time for protection and conservation of forest and green areas.
- (d) & (e) Climate resilience and heat mitigation are addressed through various policies and programmes promoting urban green spaces and tree plantation, including initiatives  such  as  the  Nagar  Van  Yojana  and  other  urban  greening  efforts undertaken by States/UTs and Urban Local Bodies. The Government adopts a multi-pronged  approach  for  prevention,  control  and  abatement  of  pollution through regulatory, technological and ecosystem-based measures. Emergency measures are implemented during severe pollution episodes and complement long-term policy interventions.
- (f) Forest and tree cover in the country, including urban and peri-urban areas, is assessed periodically by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) through the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) using satellite imagery and field verification. As per ISFR 2023, the overall forest and tree cover in the country shows an increasing trend. The Ministry does not maintain separate city-wise assessment of green cover for metropolitan cities. Enhancement of urban green spaces is promoted through initiatives such as the Nagar Van Yojana and other afforestation and urban greening efforts undertaken by States/UTs and Urban Local Bodies.

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Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3872 regarding 'Underutilization of Funds' raised by Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar due for reply on 16.03.2026.

|   Financial Year |   Total area approved (Ha) |   Total cost approved (Rs. in lakhs) |   No. of Projects for which 1 st instalment released |   1 st instalment funds released (Rs. in lakhs) |   No. of Projects for which 2 nd instalment released |   2 nd instalment funds released (Rs. in lakhs) | Total funds released (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|           325    |                    1333.8  |                                   10 |                                               933.66 |                                               0 |                                                0     |                                          933.66 | 2020-21                               |
|          3816.85 |                   15237.4  |                                  150 |                                             10693.9  |                                               1 |                                               61.59  |                                        10755.5  | 2021-22                               |
|          3522.48 |                   12639.1  |                                  165 |                                              8847.43 |                                               0 |                                                0     |                                         8847.43 | 2022-23                               |
|          3119.52 |                   12038.3  |                                   94 |                                              8426.8  |                                              28 |                                              880.101 |                                         9306.9  | 2023-24                               |
|          4852.38 |                   15551.6  |                                  127 |                                             10886.1  |                                              79 |                                             3054.43  |                                        13940.6  | 2024-25                               |
|          2882.08 |                    9815.32 |                                   81 |                                              6895.22 |                                              73 |                                             2058.2   |                                         8953.41 | 2025-26                               |

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