New Delhi, Feb 20:
The National Mission for Green India, which was first announced by the
then Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, in early 2011,
has received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on
Thursday as a Centrally-sponsored scheme.
The project, which has a planned investment of about Rs.13,000 crore
during the 12th Plan Period, aims to add six to eight million hectares
of forest cover as well as improve degraded forests over 10 years. About
Rs.46,000 crore will be spent on this scheme.
It is estimated that about 40 per cent of India’s forests are degraded currently.
The project is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan
on Climate Change. Some studies estimate that the new and restored
forests will absorb about 43 million tonnes of green house gases.
The project will be implemented with the participation of gram sabhas, women’s self-help groups and community organisations.
An official statement said, “Of the total expenditure of Rs.13,000 crore
envisaged in the 12th Plan, the Plan outlay is Rs.2,000 crore. The source
of funding for the scheme would be from the Plan outlay, and convergence
with MGNREGA (rural job scheme), CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority) and NAP (National Afforestation
Programme).”
(This article was published on February 20, 2014)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/green-india-mission-gets-cabinet-nod/article5709579.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy
