The Uttar Pradesh government has set a target to increase green cover to 15 per cent by 2030 and a target of planting 35 crore trees in 2024.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, during his budget speech on Monday, said that the green cover in Uttar Pradesh currently stood at 9.23 per cent, adding that the Uttar Pradesh government had set the target to increase it to 15 per cent by the year 2030.
The minister presented in detail the provisions made by the government in this regard in the budget, stressing that consistent efforts were being made for the growth of greenery in the state.
The state government is continuously making efforts to increase greenery in the state. Presently, the forest and tree cover in Uttar Pradesh is 9.23 per cent of the geographical area of the state. The target is to increase it to 15 per cent by the year 2030.
In the current financial year 2023-24, for the expansion of greenery in Uttar Pradesh, over 36.16 crore saplings have been planted in the state, against the target of 35 crore. A target of planting 35 crore saplings is proposed in the rainy season 2024. Under the project, Rs 600 crore is proposed for the social afforestation scheme, Rs 175 crore for the nursery management scheme and Rs 110 crore for programmes run under the Green India Mission.
A provision of Rs 48.94 crore is proposed for Project Tiger and Project Elephant and Rs 50 crore for the establishment of Kukrail Night Safari Park in the Kukrail forest area located in Lucknow district.