Source: BCCL/representational image
State and national highways across Karnataka will get trees on either side after an order by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department was passed.The department has directed agencies affiliated with the Public Works Department (PWD) to spend at least 1 per cent of the road budget on increasing the number of trees around these major roads. The department has directed agencies affiliated with the Public Works Department (PWD) to spend at least 1 per cent of the road budget on increasing the number of trees around these major roads.
They took into account that climate change is affecting people's lives adversely and said it has now become urgent to plant as many trees as possible to counter the negative effects of climate change. “It is true that in the last few years, we have lost a considerable amount of green cover, especially along the major roads." Lack of substantial tree cover has not only contributed to rise in temperature also allowed high pollution levels to fester. If millions of trees hadn't been chopped then perhaps droughts could have been overcome by providing fodder to livestock and prevent pollution.
Taking note of these factors, the state government has already taken up afforestation in a big way. But to make it really successful, we need to raise trees on either sides of the road too,” explained a top official of the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department. Currently, works on highways in Karnataka is executed by Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP) and Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) affiliated to PWD along with engineering wing of the RDPR department. After holding a joint meeting of officials of all the departments concerned, the state government, last Friday, ordered for an increase in tree plantations all along the state and national highways across Karnataka.
Source: Indiatimes, 27 Jan 2017
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