Facing
criticism of ignoring environmental concerns in rush to clear
projects, Government on
Thursday cleared a plan to create new forest cover and improve the quality of
existing forests with an expenditure of Rs 13,000 crore in the 12th Plan.
Besides
the two components, which are to be implemented through various measures
including decentralisation of forest governance, the proposed National
Mission for a Green India (GIM) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme will also
strive to achieve increased forest-based livelihood income of households living
in and around the forests.
The
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
on Thursday approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The
objectives of the Mission during 12th Plan period includes increased
forest/tree cover and improved quality of forest cover in two to eight million
hectares, along with improved ecosystem services including biodiversity,
hydrological services, increased forest-based livelihood income of households,
living in and around the forests, and enhanced annual CO2 sequestration
(process of capture and long term storage of CO2).
Of
the total expenditure of Rs 13,000 crore envisaged in the 12th Plan, the plan
outlay is Rs 2000 crore. The source of funding for the scheme would be from the
Plan outlay, and convergence with MGNREGA activities, Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and the National
Afforestation Programme (NAP).
"The
sharing pattern for the plan outlay would be 90 for Centre and 10 State for the
North Eastern States and 75 Centre and 25 State for the rest of the States. The
13th Finance Commission grant funds may be counted towards the States' share,
to the extent that this is in conformity with the Commission's award," a
government release said.
Mission
implementation will be on a decentralized participatory approach with
involvement of grass root level organisations in planning, decision making,
implementation and monitoring. The gram sabha and the committees mandated by
the gram sabha, including revamped Jont Forest Management Committees will
oversee implementation at the village level.
