In a written replying to a question on plantations along National Highways in Rajya Sabha today, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari informed that the Indian Road Congress (IRC) has published guidelines on Landscaping and Tree Plantation (IRC:SP:21:2009) to focus attention on different aspects of landscaping, broad guidelines on landscaping & plantation, types of species which includes general considerations relating to landscaping, specific aspects relevant to rural and urban highways, landscaping problems of existing roads and maintenance of the landscaping facilities. These Guidelines have been adopted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for plantation along the National Highways.
A sum of about Rs.80.60 crores was spent during the last financial year for carrying out plantation through forest department/Government agencies, as deposit work including through private agencies. Besides above, plantation is carried out by Concessionaire/ contractor as a scope of agreement.
