Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change encourages plantation in the country including various metropolitan cities through programmes and schemes such as Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), National Mission for a Green India (GIM), etc. which promotes urban forestry, tree plantation on vacant lands and bunds on farm lands etc. by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.

In respect to urban areas, the Ministry is implementing Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) which envisages creating a Nagar Van/Nagar Vatika in City having Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council/Municipality/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for providing wholesome healthy living environment for the residents and thus contributing to growth of clean, green, healthy and sustainable cities. The scheme is being implemented across the country including Maharashtra using the funds under the National Fund of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).So far, the Ministry has approved 9 Nagar Van/Vatika projects in Maharashtra with the total cost of Rs. 726.83 Lakhs.

The following additional steps taken by the Government contribute to protection and development of forest areas in the country including in the metropolitan cities:

1. For preservation and protection of forest and wildlife, various laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and other central/state laws as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented by the respective State Government /UT Administration.
2. The Ministry has implemented National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for tree plantation in degraded forests through people’s participation which has been merged with National Mission for a Green India (GIM), under which, in addition to other sub-missions, there is a specific sub-mission for enhancing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas.
3. Urban forestry is a permissible activity under the provisions of Compensatory Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made there under.
4. Further, tree plantation, being a multi-departmental, multi-agency activity, are also being taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources of other ministries/ organizations and also through State Plan budgets.

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