Minister says green cover target 20% in Haryana

GURUGRAM: Forest minister Kanwar Pal announced an ambitious plan on Saturday to increase the green cover of the state from 7% to 20% in five years. Environmentalists, however, have called the target ‘unrealistic’.

“We will adopt 50 villages in each district every year and will conduct plantation drives in association with the respective village panchayats. We have a target of 1.25 crore plants for plantation during the year of 2020-21,” said Pal. He also said that the drones will be used to ensure that no illegal activities are taking place in Aravalis. The department has selected 1,126 villages in the state for the drive.
At present, the state has the state has 3.6% forest cover and 3. 7% tree cover, which makes up for all its greenery.
Pal also pointed out that for the eco-restoration project of Badkhal lake, the forest department will plant 1.2 lakh saplings in 2020-21, and another lakh plants the following year. The forest department also plans to conduct cluster plantation drives across districts to ensure that no patch is left without green cover.
Environmental experts and conservationists, however, are not convinced. “The government is not sure what the definition of forest in Haryana is. How can it increase forest cover then? It is just a publicity stunt. If Haryana decides on the definition of forest, it will be easier to protect gair mumkin pahar, foothills, and more areas can also be included in the Aravali forest,” said Vivek Kamboj, an environmentalist.
Another environmental activist, Vaishali Rana Chandra, said, “The state was supposed to submit a list of areas which are part of the natural conservation zone (NCZ) to the ministry of environment last year. It is still pending. Large scale mining activities and illegal construction work are happening in Aravalis and amid all this chaos how can they aim to increase forest cover to 20%?”