The rural development ministry is soon going to launch an afforestation drive along the national highways all across the country. The drive, taken up through MGNREGA is aimed at increasing the green cover in the country.

“India has vast tracts of land along the national highways throughout the country, and this land can be utilized for planting trees of varying utility including minor economic uses, minor forest produces as well as for providing shelter against the scorching heat  during the summer season,” a note from the ministry said.

Afforestation and tree plantation is a permissible activity under MGNREGA. Operational guidelines for MGNREGA provide for convergence of other rural development with it within the parameters of the act.

Guidelines for convergence of rural development programmes and ministry of environment and forests with MGNREGA have already been issued. These guidelines provide for convergence of MGNREGA activities with similar works under national afforestation programme (NAP) of MoEF.

Reforestation and tree plantation such as avenue plantation, shelter belt plantation and road rail, canal and boundary plantation etc are permissible activities under NAP