Green Highways Policy: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has successfully planted 402.28 lakhs plants along National Highways as part of the Green Highways Policy 2015. This policy, designed to enhance environmental sustainability, has been a major step towards greening India’s road infrastructure.
Objectives of the Green Highways Policy
The Green Highways Policy, established in 2015, aims to achieve several environmental and social objectives:
- Reduce Pollution: Planting trees and shrubs along highways helps absorb air pollutants and dust.
- Provide Shade: Greenery offers shade on hot roads, improving comfort during summer.
- Mitigate Noise Pollution: Plants help to reduce the noise generated by increasing vehicular traffic.
- Prevent Soil Erosion: Vegetation helps stabilize embankment slopes, preventing soil erosion.
- Decrease Glare and Radiation: Trees moderate glare from headlights and reduce incoming radiation from the sun.
- Create Jobs: The policy creates employment opportunities for local communities through various plantation activities.
Implementation and Stakeholders
The extensive plantation efforts are carried out by a range of contributors including Self Help Groups (SHGs), private agencies, state forest departments, and contractors. These stakeholders are responsible for planting, transplanting, and maintaining greenery as per the scope of their sanctioned work. A dedicated Plantation Cell has been established within the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to oversee and monitor these projects through regional offices of NHAI, NHIDCL, and other associated agencies.
Role of MoRTH and NHAI
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways. While the Green Highways Policy falls under its purview, policies related to state highways and other roads are managed by respective state authorities. The successful implementation of the Green Highways Policy highlights MoRTH’s commitment to environmental sustainability and road safety.
