Guwahati, Dec 17: The Green Highways Policy 2015 implementation has been unsatisfactory in Assam, with limited plantation activity along the state’s National Highways (NHs).
According to statistics from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on plantation activities carried out along NHs from 2015-16 to November 15, 2024, Assam ranks fifth from the bottom among 22 states.
The Green Highways Policy (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance), 2015 was designed to create a policy framework for tree plantation along NHs. Its objectives include mitigating air pollution and dust by using trees and shrubs as natural air pollutant sinks, reducing the impact of noise pollution from increasing vehicular traffic, and enhancing the overall aesthetics of highways.
During this period, Assam planted 7.98 lakh saplings along the avenues and medians of its NHs. However, only four states performed worse than Assam. Kerala planted 2.24 lakh saplings, Himachal Pradesh 3.61 lakh, Jammu & Kashmir 3.82 lakh, and Uttarakhand 7.06 lakh.
On the other hand, Rajasthan emerged as the top performer, planting 50.67 lakh saplings during the same period. Madhya Pradesh ranked second with 43.53 lakh saplings, while Uttar Pradesh secured the third spot with 40.22 lakh saplings.
Despite the large number of ongoing road infrastructure projects in Assam, which have resulted in the felling of numerous trees, the statistics highlight a glaring gap in replantation efforts. The number of trees planted does not match the number of trees that have been cut down, raising concerns about the environmental impact of these development projects.
Also Read:Â Assam to empower 30 lakh women to generate Rs. 30,000 Cr in next decade
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