NHAI collaborates with NGOs for Highway Plantations, Tree Preservation

18 Aug 2023 CW Team

In order to enhance the survival rate of saplings and promote greater public involvement in tree plantation initiatives, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made the decision to collaborate with NGOs, social organisations, and educational institutions for tree plantation activities along the national highways.

Contrary to the prevailing belief that NHAI contributes to environmental degradation through tree cutting, it's important to note that NHAI has effectively executed the transplantation of 68,000 trees, including 12,000 trees as part of the construction of the Dwarka expressway. Notably, in Aurangabad, NHAI successfully preserved 51 Banyan trees, each with an age ranging from 50 to 100 years.

Recognising that a substantial portion of newly planted seedlings may not survive, the approach is shifting towards planting saplings to optimise the overall outcome. Furthermore, the trees introduced during these plantation drives are being geotagged to enable close monitoring of their growth progress. Another significant decision has been taken to ensure that the plantation work is not subcontracted. Instead, it's preferred that those who possess a genuine interest take charge of this task. Therefore, NHAI will actively engage with NGOs, social groups, and educational institutions for this purpose. The NHAI is fully committed to providing all necessary resources to facilitate these collaborative efforts, according to officials familiar with the on-going developments.

Infrastructure Urban

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