(a) whether any plantation drive has been launched in all the States of the country on the occasion of Environment Day and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of trees planted across the country during the above programme; and
(c) whether the State Government of Haryana has given its nod to cut down trees in the hills of Aravali and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): National Afforestation & Eco-Development Board (NAEB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme "National Afforestation Programme" Scheme for regeneration of degraded forests and adjoining areas through large scale plantation involving people''s participation in the country. The scheme is implemented through a decentralized mechanism of State Forest Development Agency at State level, Forest Development agency at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees at Village level. On the Environment day i.e. 5th June, 2017, the MoEFCCand several other states distributed large number of saplings to the public.
(c): As per the information received from the State Government of Haryana, no blanket permission to cut down trees in Hills of Aravallis has been issued. However, in areas in Aravallis hills which are notified under General Section 4 of Punjab Land Preservation Act 1900, where prior permission of Forest Department is required for felling of trees, permissions are given from time to time in accordance with rules by the competent authority.
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