Aarey forest issue: Javadekar refuses to comment; Says India's green cover up by 15k sq km

New Delhi: India’s green cover has increased by 15,000 square kilometres, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday.

Responding to a question on the issue of felling trees in Mumbai’s Aarey forest, in which the Supreme Court has restrained authorities from cutting anymore trees, Javadekar told the reporters here that he would not like to comment on a sub judice matter.

“The Supreme Court has given a decision on it, so I will not comment on the matter,” he told a press conference at the ministry.

The environment minister, however, said, “If you cut one tree, you plant and ensure the growth of five trees.”

Asked if afforestation has worked, Javadekar replied, “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 and those include India.”

The Union minister also appealed to the people not to burst fire crackers this Diwali.

If anyone wanted to burst them at all, he advised them opting for green crackers launched recently.

In his press conference, Javadekar also said even the national capital faces several pollution related challenges but they can be tackled as the Central government has taken a slew of measures for the purpose in the last four years.