Over 1.84 Lakh Hectares Restored Under Green India Mission Since 2015-16

The Green India Mission (GIM) has brought more than 1.84 lakh hectares under ecological restoration across 17 states and one Union Territory since 2015-16, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said ₹57.08 crore had been allocated for GIM activities in seven states during FY2026-27 Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.

The allocation supports eco-restoration, plantation and maintenance activities under approved state plans. However, government records show that allocations do not always translate into immediate expenditure. In 2021-22, ₹156.46 crore was allocated and ₹138.79 crore utilised. In 2022-23, ₹137.29 crore was allocated, while utilisation stood at ₹178.79 crore, including spending from earlier releases. In 2023-24, ₹112.28 crore was allocated and ₹64.12 crore utilised.

For 2025-26, the GIM allocation was revised from ₹220 crore to ₹95.70 crore, with ₹40.95 crore utilised by January 31, 2026, highlighting a continuing gap between budgetary provisions and actual spending.

The GIM is one of the nine missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change and seeks to restore degraded forest and non-forest landscapes through an integrated approach. Its ecological objectives include improving carbon sequestration, biodiversity, forest quality and water-related ecosystem services, while supporting communities dependent on forests for fodder, fuel and livelihoods.

The government has also expanded the mission's focus towards vulnerable landscapes, including the Aravallis, Western Ghats, Himalayas, mangroves and degraded open forests. Restoration of impaired open forests could potentially contribute significantly to carbon sequestration.

Alongside GIM, the Nagar Van Yojana targets 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas by 2026-27, aimed at expanding urban green cover and improving air quality and micro-climatic conditions.

The overall impact, however, will depend on sustained funding, timely utilisation and effective maintenance of restored landscapes.