NEW DELHI: The environment ministry wants the forest cover to be increased to 20% in National Capital Region (NCR) from the present 6%. It also wants the most polluting industries, which have been put under 'red' category, to be shifted out of populated areas. Sources said the ministry has also sought that the state governments falling under the NCR should complete the demarcation of natural conservation zones (NCZs) to get its concurrence for the Revised Plan of NCR 2021. "Urban development ministry has convened a meeting on Wednesday to discuss all these issues and we expect some decision will taken so that the revised plan is finalised and notified," said a government official. Besides officials from the Central government ministries, representatives from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan will attend the meeting. Without approval of the environment ministry, the revised plan cannot be finalised. Officials said the green ministry's thrust on three-fold increase in forest cover is a good intention considering the manner in which urbanisation is rising in the region. They said this proposal is likely to be accepted by all. Similarly, though there seems agreement to manage the most polluting industries in the region. However, some officials from state governments feel that there cannot be a policy to keep shifting such industries in every few years. "Rather there is a need to have a better plan to make them less polluting ones and to have the least impact on people," said a government official. TOI has learnt that urban development secretary Rajiv Gauba had recently took a review meeting on the status of NCZ and Aravalis. But no decision was taken. "We expect some clarity will emerge after Wednesday's meeting. The state governments want a decision is taken quickly," said the official.

Source: The Times of India, 7 september 2016