The government has launched Green Highways policy to promote green covers along National Highway corridors with participation of farmers, private sector and government institutions. Launching the scheme, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in New Delhi today that the scheme is a step towards creating clean, green, and pollution free India.
The Minister hoped that the policy will strike a balance between highways development and environmental protection. Transplantation of trees will be promoted along the Highways wherever it is technically feasible. The policy provides comprehensive guidelines to ensure uniformity of operations to enhancement of Highways landscapes.
It will help generate employments to the community and the local groups will get right to the non-timber produce from the trees. One per cent of the total project cost of all highway projects will be kept for the plantation and its maintenance.