Question : Plantation along the National Highways

(a) whether there is any scheme to plant saplings on both sides of the newly constructed and upgraded National Highways (NHs) in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of saplings planted along the newly constructed Shivpuri -Devas four-lane National Highway in Madhya Pradesh along with the name of the species and the present status of the same;

(d) whether the Government proposes to plant saplings during conversion/expansion of four-lane roads to six-lane and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the number of trees cut down during the construction work of road on Udaipur-Himmat Nagar-Ahmedabad stretch along with the number of saplings planted along that stretch?

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) &(b) Yes, Sir. Indian Road Congress (IRC) has published the Guidelines on Landscaping and Tree Plantation (IRC:SP:21:2009) to focus attention on different aspects of landscaping, broad guidelines on Landscaping & Plantation, types of species which includes general considerations relating to landscaping, specific aspects relevant to rural and urban highways, landscaping problems of existing roads and maintenance of the landscaping facilities.

(c) Details are annexed.

(d) Yes, Sir. Road-side plantation is carried out as per IRC:SP:21:2009 for widening from 4-lane to 6-lane on available ROW.

(e) Total 9529 no. of trees were cut down during construction of 6- laning of Udaipur-Ratanpur-Shamlaji section of NH-8 which is a part of Udaipur to Ahemadabad stretch in the State of Rajasthan. Plantation work will be carried out after completion of the project within the available ROW.