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Daily News Analysis

River afforestation plan                                      

16th March, 2022 Environment

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Context: The Centre envisages a ₹19,000–crore project to rejuvenate 13 major rivers by planting trees.

Aim:

  • to increase the cumulative forest cover by 7,417.36 sq. km. in the vicinity of these 13 rivers
  • to prevent 50.21 million tonnes of CO2–equivalent in 10–year–old plantations and 74.76 million tonnes CO2–equivalent in 20–year–old plantations.
  • to help in recharging groundwater, reducing sedimentation, generating ₹449.01 crore from non-timber and other forest produce as well as providing employment of 344 million man–days.

Other details:

  • 13 major rivers are: The rivers are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Cauvery.
  • Funded by: the National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, (MoEF&CC).
  • Detailed Project Reports, for each of these rivers, will be prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, Dehradun, (ICFRE).
  • The State Forest Departments will be the key implementing agencies with “convergence of schemes of other line departments in the States”. Technical support would be given by the ICFRE.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-launches-19000-cr-river-afforestation-plan/article65225046.ece/amp/