New Delhi: Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that India’s green cover has increased by 15,000 square kilometres in the last four years.
“In the last four years, the green cover of the country has increased by 15,000 square kilometres. There are only a few countries in the world whose green cover has increased, that includes India,” Javadekar said.
While addressing a press conference on various issues related to environment, Javadekar was also asked about the ongoing issue of Aarey Colony in Mumbai. He responded by saying, “Supreme Court has given a decision on it, so I will not comment on the matter.”
Union Environment Minister @PrakashJavdekar: Supreme Court has given a decision on it, so I will not comment on the matter. #AareyForest pic.twitter.com/pufjLqys2c
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) October 7, 2019
However, he stated that the policy and the practice is “if you cut one tree, you plant and ensure the growth of five trees.”
ALSO READ: Aarey Forest: ‘Don’t cut anything now,’ Supreme Court orders status quo
A special Bench of the Supreme Court today asked the Maharashtra government to ensure that no trees are further axed at Mumbai’s Aarey Colony and directed to maintain the status quo and said it would further hear all the petitions in the matter on October 21.
The court passed the directive after hearing a suo moto PIL based on a letter written by a group of law students to the court against the felling of trees.
Talking about the air quality in the national capital, Javadekar said: “Since 2006, air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating rapidly. But till 2014, neither it was talked about nor much work was done to improve it. In 2015, PM started Air Quality Index. 113 AQI monitoring stations present in Delhi/NCR and 29 more to be installed soon.”
(With ANI inputs)