12
5. Initiative of Gujarat State
Tree plantation in cities and town has been
practiced throughout the state. First planned
urban afforestation in Gujarat was done in
Gandhinagar, after a decision of the Government
to develop Gandhinagar as the Capital of the
state. The Forest Department was first to
step in to start tree plantation in a planned
manner in mid 1960s. Ravines and other areas
around Sabarmati River were planted. Road
sites dividing the sectors were also planted.
Subsequently, open areas of the sectors were
also afforested. From 1971 to 2011, a total area
of 25,180 ha was afforested by planting over
34.95 lakh seedlings
18
.
Van Mahotsav was celebrated in all towns
and cities. The park and garden wings of the
municipalities carried out tree plantation. In
2005, Gujarat Urban Development Mission
(GUDM) of the Urban Department and Forest
Department took another initiative to start
Nagar Nandan Van
Yojana. The plan for 129
municipal corporations and municipal areas
were approved in 2005-06 to plant 8.34 lakh
tall seedlings and also to distribute about 6.33
lakh seedlings to people
21
. This programme
helped to improve tree cover in several towns
in state. The
Nagar Nandan Yojan
has been
one of the successful afforestation programme
to improve urban ecology and environment.
Subsequently, this plan was extended to more
towns but has been discontinued, after expiry of
the project period. The Urban Department also
implemented plantation schemes separately to
improve greenery in the cities. Tree plantations
in campaign mod were also carried out in some
cities such as Amdabad, Surat and Vadodara.
Through notification of the Gujarat Urban
Development Department in November 2009,
the Government emphasized Urban Green Plan
to improve tree cover. The provision for creation
of
Panchavati, Smriti Van
,
Sanskritic Van
, Oxygen
park, green guard etc have been made to involve
people, NGOs and civic society to plant trees in
the open space. The notification also mentions
plantation of at least ten trees by every section
of classes in schools. Urban Authorities are
advised to earmark certain percent of budget
for raising trees.
Gujarat State initiated a programme to establish
cultural forest (
Sanskritic Van
) near urban and
sub-urban centre in 2004 during celebration
of state level
Van Mahotsav
.
Punit Van
was
established at Gandhinagar in 2004,
Mangalya
Van
at Ambaji in 2005,
Tirthankar Van
at Taranga
in 2006,
Harihar Van
at Somnath in 2007,
Bhakti
Van
at Chotila in 2008,
Shyamal Van
at Shamlaji
Punit Van at Gandhinagar
