MARGAO
Taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' on the occasion of World Environment Day, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has announced that the Forest Department will plant around five lakh trees across the State in the next three months.
He also reiterated that no occupancy certificates will be issued to high-rise buildings which do not fulfil the vertical forest criteria. He further said that the TCP Board has decided to give FSI benefits to high-rise buildings so that the middle class gets amenities, including parking, recreation halls, etc. The Minister highlighted that buildings in Singapore are painted in white, which helps to regulate and maintain the temperature.
Speaking at the launch of the State’s first dense forest project at Margao Municipal Council’s Sonsodo legacy dump site, Rane said the initiative aims to strengthen the connection between people and nature. He added that students and women would be involved in the tree-planting drive to foster environmental awareness and community participation.
Rane said the initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to protect the environment by expanding forest cover. "The Forest Department is working out modalities to execute this unprecedented plantation effort. Forest officials will meet shortly to identify the zones for implementation,” Rane told reporters.
On the funding of the projects in urban areas, Rane, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, said that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) will spend funds to create the dense forest and then hand over the project to the municipalities for maintenance.
On the implementation of the vertical forest concept, Rane said there will be no compromise on the concept, asserting that occupancy certificates will not be issued to buildings which do not implement the criteria. “When the project enjoys the FSI rules, the promoter has to implement the vertical forest in the building. Similarly, provisions for parking and recreation halls will be made mandatory for high-rise buildings,” he added.
