Environment Ministry proposes scheme for developing city forests

NEW DELHI": The Environment Ministry has proposed to come out with a scheme with an aim to develop at least one city forest on forest land in cities having municipal corporations, Lok Sabha was informed today.

"The Environment Ministry has proposed an urban forestry scheme namely 'nagar van udyan yojna' on pilot basis. The aim is to develop at least one city forest initially on forest land ranging from 20 ha to 100 ha in cities having municipal corporations," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

He said that the Ministry will provide one time financial support for development of the city forests and the scheme aims to create 200 city forests in the country in the next five years.

He said that a school nursery yojna is also proposed on pilot basis for five years. Under this scheme, it is proposed to create small nurseries in schools involving students from class six to nine.

"The main objective is to create awareness about environment and help students identify and learn about the various benefits of trees and plants," Javadekar said.

He said that under the scheme, 1,000 schools of the country will be selected every year and each will raise at least 1,000 saplings by involving students. Selected schools will receive grant of Rs 25,000 in the first year and Rs 10,000 per year for the subsequent two years.

"There is proposal in the ministry to introduce 'smriti van' at present," he said while replying to a question.

Replying to another question, Javadekar said that presently there is no proposal to launch any special programme or scheme involving non profit organisations in various aspects of protection of conservation of wild animals or forest land area including community mobilisation and awareness generation in the country under consideration.