'Government working on creating urban forest in each city in ten years'

NEW DELHI: Stressing on creating a balance between development and environment conservation, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government is working towards creating an urban forest in each city in the next 10 years.

"We have started working on urban afforestation...it is envisaged that in the next 10 years there should be a forest in each city," the Environment and Forests Minister said, adding that one such initiative has already been undertaken in Pune.

"There are gardens but not forests in cities. We will give funds and work towards creating urban forests," he said.

The Minister was speaking at the launch event of a book, application and website on "Birds of Bhindawas" bird sanctuary in Haryana where Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki were also present.

Javadekar said that to carry out development work and reduce poverty while protecting the environment is the objective the government is working on.

He hoped the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill will be cleared by Parliament in the Winter session as money would go to states.

Collective wisdom will prevail and other bills would also be passed during the session, he said.

Javadekar mentioned that while some species are endangered and needed to be focused on, new species were also being discovered every year.

Attempts are being made towards augmentation of fodder and water resources in forests so that animals don't have to venture out and instances of conflicts with humans are avoided, the Minister added.