Lok Sabha Question No. 24 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-21
Subject: Development of Forest on River Bank
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY, P.R. SUNDARAM

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 24 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2015

## Development of Forest on River Bank

## 24.     SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY: SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

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

- (a) whether experts from five States through which the Ganga river flows met at the Forest Research Institute and discussed various issues including development of forest on the river bank to ensure continuous flow of water with healthy aquatic species in the river;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the suggestions made by the experts from each of these States and the follow up action taken or proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) &  (b)  Yes  Sir.  The  experts  from  five  participating  states  through  which  Ganga river  flows  met  at  Forest  Research  Institute  (FRI)  on  2 nd and  3 rd July,  2015  for National Level Stakeholders Meeting to discuss various issues including development of forest areas along the river bank by planting indigenous species to ensure continues flow of water with reduced siltation.

The  other  experts  who  participated  in  the  discussion  were  scientists  of  Indian Council  of  Forestry  Research  &  Education  (ICFRE),  Forest  Research  Institute, Forest  Survey  of  India,  Botanical  Survey  of  India,  Indian  Institute  of  Remote Sensing,  Survey  of  India,  Wildlife  Institute  of  India,  Indian  Institute  of  Soil  & Water  Conservation  and  officials  from  Indira  Gandhi  National  Forest  Academy, Eco  Task  Force,  Indo-Tibetan  Border  Police  (ITBP),  National  Medicinal  Plant Board,  Nehru  Yuva  Kendra  Sangathan,  Central  Water  Commission,  National Mission for Clean Ganga, State Project Management Group, alongwith participation from Parmarth Niketan, Patanjali Yog Peeth and World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature (India). The detailed intervention plan made by each state was discussed and suggestions were made to further improve Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Forestry Interventions for Ganga.

- (c)  Following suggestions were made to address the issues relating to development of forest along the riverbank to ensure continuous flow of water with healthy aquatic life:
-  Focussed implementation and monitoring mechanism of Detailed Project Report (DPR).
-  Prioritization of vulnerable areas in the state for forestry interventions.
-  Formulation of Policy and specific plans for encouraging agroforestry on private lands along the river Ganga.
-  Involvement of Nehru Yuva Kendra, NGOs, local communities and youth through NCC, NSS etc. to spread awareness about the activities under the Clean Ganga Mission.
-  Involvement  of  Ministry  of  Ayurveda,  Yoga  &  Naturopathy,  Unani,  Siddha  & Homoeopathy  (AYUSH)  for  plantation  of  medicinal  plants  along  the  banks  of Ganga.
-  Involvement of Forest Departments of the five states for plantation of multi-tier forestry species along the banks of Ganga.
-  Emphasis  on  involvement  of  Eco-Task  Force  and  Indo-Tibetan  Border  Police (ITBP)  force  for  the  implementation  of  interventions  in  plains  and  Himalayas respectively.
-  Improvement of riparian and terrestrial ecosystems along the Ganges.
-  Inclusion of concurrent research issues in the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

All these suggestions are being included in the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) on forestry Interventions for cleaning Ganga.

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