Centre Approves 385 Projects under Nagar Van Scheme

In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that Centre has approved a total of 385 projects under the Nagar Van Yojana scheme since its inception in 2020.

The scheme aims at promoting urban forestry by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions and local bodies. 

The Nagar Van Yojana  envisages creating 1,000  Nagar Van in Cities having Municipal Corporation, Municipal council, Municipality or Urban Local Bodies for providing a healthy living environment for the residents.

Nagar Van Yojana (NVY)

• The government has announced implementation of the Nagar Van Scheme on the occasion of the World Environment Day (5th June) in 2020.

• Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) envisages developing 400 Nagar Vans and 200 Nagar Vatikas in the country during the period of 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an objective to significantly enhance the tree outside forests and green cover, enhancement of biodiversity and ecological benefits to the urban and peri-urban areas apart from improving quality of life of city dwellers. 

• The total estimated cost of Nagar Van Yojana is Rs.895 crore for the period of 2020-21 to 2024-25 for implementation from the National Funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

• The Supreme Court on 10th July 2009 issued orders that there will be a Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) as National Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Environment & Forests for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of compensatory afforestation activities.

• There is State CAMPA in every state under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of the respective state.

• The finances for the scheme will be paid for by the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016) funds.

• The CAF Act was enacted to manage the funds collected for compensatory afforestation which till then was managed by ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).