Vote on Account 2014: Budgetary allocation for MOEF hiked

NEW DELHI: The interim budget has given higher allocation for Environment and Forests this year compared to the full-fledged budget last year.

The ministry this time got Rs 2693 crore as against Rs 2430 crore in 2013-14.

The increase in allocation came as the Ministry was taking measures to address air and water pollution and prevention of pollution of national rivers and lakes.

The Ministry has initiated a new scheme--National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System in the 12th Five Year Plan by merging National Lake Conservation Programme and National Wetlands Conservation Programme.

With growing recognition of the threat of climate change and its significance as an area of domestic policy- making and planning, a new scheme Climate Action Programme has been started in the first year of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The Ministry has also operationalised the Green India Mission, one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change.

The aim of the programme is to increase forest/tree cover on five million hectares of land and improved quality of forest cover on another five million hectares.