Maharashtra promotes afforestation through new green city policy

MUMBAI: To deal with depleting rainfall in the state in recent years, the Maharashtra government has come out with a new Green City policy that lays emphasis on afforestation on private land and on those reserved for community purposes, protection and increasing of biodiversity among other measures.

The policy which has come into effect from July 31, places the responsibility of drawing up plans for afforestation by local self governing bodies (civic bodies).

As per the National Forest Policy, 1988 the state should have a forest cover of over 33 per cent of its total landmass area.

An official from the state Forest department said that keeping the National forest policy in mind, the government has drawn up the concept of Green Maharashtra, wherein trees will be required to be planted on vacant land.

However, the government does admit that finding vacant land in urban areas is difficult as there is 45 per cent urbanisation in the state due to rapid industrialisation, commerce and growth in employment opportunities.

"The local self governing bodies will have to seek assistance from environmentalists and ecology experts while formulating plans to plant trees in open spaces, in the vicinity of water bodies and along both the sides of the roads," he said.

He said the civic bodies will have to set up a machinery for the implementation of trees by utilising their existing available manpower.

"As an alternative the civic bodies in the case of afforestation can select from among Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), Non-Governmental Bodies and Voluntary Organisations doing excellent work in forest and environment sector," he said.