5 lakh Trees To be Planted Alongside Track in Indian Railways in This Season 

Indian Railways has decided to sign a model agreement for plantation on railway land with the State Forest Departments of Haryana and Punjab.

This agreement paves way for the following improvements with regard to afforestation on railway land:

• Railway can contribute substantially towards the Green India Mission
• Forest department is involved in the plantation as well as maintenance and disposal of trees, thus bringing in the much needed expertise in afforestation
• Plantation along the railway track on railway land boundary by Forest Department without declaring such land as protected forest with the provision for resumption of such land at any time by railways thus no hindrance to railway works / developmental projects.
• Protecting railway land from encroachment.

This agreement is proposed to be executed between Northern Railway and State Forest Departments of Haryana and Punjab on 2nd May 2016 and will pave way for planting 5 lakh trees during this season.

All Zonal railways have been asked to execute similar agreement between their zones and concerned State Forest Departments at the earliest.

Execution of such agreements at the earliest will pave way for making a start on the plantation of trees along side track boundaries before the ensuring monsoon.