Green Corridors : An Initiative To Bring Balance In The Environment
The project of Green Corridors, supported by the NGHM is designed with the mission to control the damage done by the pollution produced by the vehicles on highways. The growing load of traffic on a road has brought us to the verge it has become essential to take necessary measures to counter the damaging effect of pollution with restorative measures. The joint effort of government and the private sector can make it more feasible to attain clean and pollution free environment and for that planting trees is the best possible option that we have in our hand.
Green corridor, India projectis not just about plantation of trees along the national highways but it’s an idea to enhance environmental sustainability of highways operations by promoting the climate change mitigation (GHG emissions) during construction and maintenance of road traffics and highways.it laid stress on perfect engineering and research model right from the designing phase to the usage of material, reduction in wastages, recycling and reuse concepts.
According to a government study (2010), the transport sector in India emits 142.04 million tons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) and 73.1% of CO2 is from the road transport alone. Realizing this factor and the harmful impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on health, climate and the environment, the Ministry of Road transport and Highways (MoRTH) came up with the concept of the green corridor India.
The National Green Highways Mission or NGHM launched on 1 July, 2016 by honorable Union road transport and highways minister Shri. Nitin Gadkari with a mission to provide a green canopy along 100,000 Km of highways and to provide jobs to approx. 1 million youth of the country. Investment worth of Rs 5000 crore has been estimated by the government which constitutes 1% of the road construction cost of Rs 5 trillion till 2019 on the mission.
The task of strategic planning, executing, and monitoring roadside plantations along national highways have been entrusted to NGHM under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).To make up for the tree losses, while road construction, this mission with the help of effective participation of local communities, private organizations and institutions, NGO’s and government agencies, farmers and Forest Department aims to develop eco-friendly national highways.
The running project is expected to sequester approximately 12 lakh metric ton carbons annually to reduce the pollution level and generate employment for the local and young population of the country which could be a real game-changer for the rural and the agricultural economy and in future the mission plans to link the project with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The minister also launched mobile application, Kisan Harit Rajmarg Yojana, and ‘Adopt a Green Highway’ Program, which engages public sector units, corporates, government sector organizations under CSR for promoting and developing green corridors along NHs.
Under the project, it has been decided to set up Centre for Innovations in Green Pathways to promote research and innovations in the field of economy with the cooperation of various research institutions and international organizations like The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), World Bank, and Yes bank.
India has a total 46.99 lakh km of road length and out of which over 96214 Km are National Highways, carrying about 40% of the traffic load. NGHM launched as part of the clean and pollution free highways policy for plantation, beautification and maintenance along the national highways.Themission gives opportunity to private companies under Public Private Partnership (PPP) to plant native as well as commercial trees, according to the local conditions in the ratio of 20:80 which will ensure supply of commercial wood to manufacturing industries and fruits and medicinal plants for consumption to the local communities in addition to combating road accidents, soil erosion, dust, and pollution.
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To enhance the green highways with employment opportunities for rural community National Green Highways Mission has initiated the roadside plantations along one lakh km network of National Highways to help maintain a Sustainable Environment in India.
