Yogi government launches Upvan Yojana to enhance urban green cover.

Lucknow : Aiming to enhance the greenery in Uttar Pradesh’s urban areas, the Urban Development Department has launched the Upvan Yojana.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s dedication to improving the environment, mitigating the effects of climate change, and promoting native biodiversity has been instrumental in shaping this initiative.

The scheme’s objective is to transform the cities of Uttar Pradesh into green spaces that will inspire future generations, making the state more climate-resilient, enriched with urban green cover, and developed parks.

An annual budget of Rs 70 crore has been allocated for the Upvan Yojana, ensuring adequate financial support for its implementation. This budget will be distributed among various urban bodies based on their needs and capacities. 

Municipal corporations will receive between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 5 crore, depending on the scale of their projects and green cover requirements.

Municipalities will be allocated funds ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, while Nagar Panchayats will be provided with a sum of Rs 50 lakh. 

A committee will be formed at the local body level to oversee the implementation of the scheme. 

In municipal bodies, the Municipal Commissioner will head the committee, while at the municipality (palika) and Panchayat levels, the District Magistrate (DM) will lead.

Urban areas are grappling with increasing pollution, the impacts of climate change, and a scarcity of natural spaces. The Upvan Yojana aims to tackle these challenges by enhancing greenery, improving air quality, conserving water, and providing natural habitats for various species. Moreover, the scheme promotes groundwater recharge through the establishment of green covers. 

An additional key objective is to foster community engagement, encouraging residents to participate in planting and maintaining these green spaces, thereby nurturing a stronger sense of environmental responsibility. 

According to Principal Secretary of Urban Development, Amrit Abhijat, careful selection of land areas is crucial in the Upvan Yojana’s strategy, ensuring each park spans a minimum area of 1 acre. The Miyawaki tree planting method will be employed to create densely packed and diverse green zones.