New Delhi, June 21: Responding to supplementaries during the fifth consecutive day’s question hour in the lower house, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar hailed India’s rising green cover and the tree plantation system abide the national evolution.
“India's green cover has gone up by one per cent in the last one year. For one tree chopped for development work, three to four are planted either in the same area or elsewhere”, he added while addressing the lower house.
According to a latest report, over 24.39 per cent of the country's geographical area now constitutes of green cover. He also said that 125 crore trees would be planted along highways to increase green cover.
Meanwhile opposing the claims, former union minister Maneka Gandhi cautioned that at times satellite pictures include sugarcane crop as trees, therefore presenting a misleading picture. Further ruling out the inconsistencies, Javadekar countered saying that the satellite pictures are taken at regular intervals and can be believed.