Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Nitin Gadkari has written to the industry associations and MSMEs registered with the government urging them to plant as many trees during the monsoon season.
Gadkari, who is also the Minister for Road Transport, oversees the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, under 1 per cent of the highway construction cost is set aside for planting trees along the highway tracts. A Rs 1000 crore fund for the same is also in the works as part of the mission.
In his letter to the industries, Gadkari has suggested in his letter that each small enterprise can plant and maintain a minimum of five tress, each medium enterprise at least fifty trees and micro enterprises can plant and maintain as many trees as possible for them.
The trees should be of local variety, indigenous to the area like fruit trees, neem, peepal etc and can be planted along national or state highways and district roads.