CHENNAI: In a bid to coordinate and streamline greening projects and tree planting programs in cities across Tamil Nadu, the state government is formulating an exclusive ‘urban green policy’.

According to a source from the forest department, the new policy is being prepared following an instruction from the chief secretary who is said to have asked the environment, climate change and forest department to prepare the policy. “The chief secretary has given an outline for the policy, based on which components will be framed,” the source said.

A few days ago, a meeting took place at the State Secretariat in which various aspects of the Urban Greening Policy were discussed. The policy is being prepared under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. The Mission has been tasked to plant 265 crore trees in the state in ten years to increase the green cover of the state from the current 23.69 percent to 33 percent.

An official clarified that the tree plantation and other greening projects being undertaken by the city corporations and other departments are not yielding any synergy. “The new policy will set standards for tree planting, species selection, tree planting, maintenance methodology, permissions to be obtained and other aspects. Once the policy is finalized, all tree greening projects in urban areas will be integrated,” he explained. .

As far as Chennai is concerned, the Parks Department of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) monitors avenue trees, parks and trees on the premises of commercial buildings. However, the civic body has no authority over trees planted in private and other government buildings.

On the other hand, state and county green commissions could only regulate the cutting of mature trees in public spaces. Government departments requiring tree removal must obtain permission from the respective green commissions. No trees may be cut down without permission from the committees.

According to the Forest Survey of India 2021 report, Chennai has only 22.70 sq km of forest area, of which 15.04 sq km is open forest. Of the Chennai Corporation’s approximately 430 square kilometers, only 5.28 percent has forest cover.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced an ‘Urban Greening Project’ to increase tree cover in the cities, under which parks and Miyawaki forests will be created.

According to the 2024-2025 budget, several initiatives will be taken such as planting tall trees, Miyawaki forests, green roofs, vertical gardens, green metros, green screens and planting trees along pedestrian walkways to enhance the green spaces in all companies and municipalities expand. in Tamil Nadu, including the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).