New Delhi: A three day workshop on National Convention on Innovations in Green Highways was inaugurated in the capital today. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Shri Mansukh Lal Mandavia said that there would be a greater success in greening highways if the local farmers are also involved. The farmers if involved in plantation, maintenance, and protection would give them a sense of responsibility and ownership. The Minister also expressed the hope that the convention will come up with actionable ideas that would be useful for the country. Shri Mandavia also pointed out that the greening of the highways along with the Swachata Abhiyan could go a long way in improving the climate.
Shri Raghav Chandra, Chairman, NHAI who also spoke at the inauguration said that he was happy that his organization while constructing the National highways would also be associated with restoring the environment through aesthetic greening. He was confident of awarding 6000 km of National highways for greening by the end of the year. Shri Chandra stressed that greening of National highways would improve the scope for rural employment and create jobs for lakhs of people associated with it.
The National Green Highways Mission signed MoUs with ITC for undertaking plantation, management & sustainable harvesting activities along NHs; Yes Bank for funding roadside plantations under CSR program; TERI technical collaboration for fostering research & innovation in Green Highways. NGHM will also sign MoUs with JK Papers for undertaking plantation, management & sustainable harvesting activities along NHs; INBAR for promoting bamboo based applications in Green Highways; World Bank for strengthening Green Highways Programme.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has promulgated Green Highways (Plantations, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy – 2015 to undertake highways plantations along National Highways. For the quick roll out of the scheme National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing entire green highways programme for the Ministry, NHIDCL & NHAI.
Under the aegis of Green Highways Policy, NGHM is mandated to plan, implement and monitor green corridors development along upcoming and existing National Highways. For effective implementation of the Green Highways Programme, NGHM intends to adapt global best practices, undertake new research, test innovations as pilot projects and further replicate them on larger scale.
