In a major push towards environmental sustainability and climate-responsive governance, the Haryana government has approved a wide-ranging plan focused on afforestation, renewable energy, wildlife protection and community engagement, officials said on Wednesday.
The state cleared an Annual Plan of Operations (APO) worth ₹298.43 crore under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), reflecting a multi-pronged strategy to enhance green cover and ecological resilience.
The decision was taken at the 10th Steering Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi. According to an official statement, Rastogi described the plan as a strategic investment in Haryana’s environmental future, stressing the need for measurable outcomes, accountability and timely execution.
CAMPA CEO Navdeep Singh informed the committee that a key component of the plan is a large-scale plantation drive, under which over 20 lakh saplings will be planted across 1,882 hectares. In addition, existing plantations will be maintained over 4,518 hectares to ensure their long-term survival.
To combat urban pollution and rising temperatures, the state will also develop dense urban forests using the Miyawaki technique across 16 hectares. These fast-growing mini-forests are expected to significantly boost green cover in urban and semi-urban areas while improving air quality.
In a step towards cleaner energy, Haryana plans to install 15 KW solar power systems in forest offices across all 22 districts. Funded through CAMPA, this initiative aims to reduce reliance on conventional energy sources, lower operational costs and cut carbon emissions from government infrastructure.
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Recognising the ecological importance of the Shivalik Hills and the Aravalli Range, the government has allocated over ₹33 crore for Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) works in these regions. The interventions will focus on soil conservation, water harvesting and restoration of degraded landscapes, while also generating employment for local communities.
To strengthen forest and wildlife protection, the plan includes the establishment of 20 new forest check posts, deployment of 60 additional forest watchers and procurement of patrolling vehicles. Provisions have also been made for rescue vehicles for injured wildlife and construction of residential quarters for frontline forest staff to improve their working conditions.
A major people-centric component of the plan is the launch of an environmental awareness programme titled ‘Haritima: Hariyali ka Rang, Haryana ke Sang’, aimed at students from Classes 6 to 10 in government schools. Under this initiative, 70 eco-camps will be organised, taking students to forests, wildlife sanctuaries and ecotourism sites for experiential learning. The programme draws inspiration from Anubhuti programme of Madhya Pradesh.
A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) will also be set up to streamline land identification, implementation and coordination among departments.
The proposal will now be sent to the national CAMPA for final approval, after which implementation will begin across the state. Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forests and Wildlife) Sudhir Rajpal and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
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