CAG audit flags major gaps in Green India Mission implementation
The audit attributed the shortcomings to several factors, including inadequate convergence with other programmes, insufficient funding, deficiencies in planning and weak monitoring mechanisms
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has identified significant gaps in the implementation of the Green India Mission (GIM), a government initiative aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India's forest cover. The audit, which examined GIM interventions across 16 States and Union Territories from 2015-16 to 2024-25, revealed that despite the mission's target to improve forest cover quality over 1.4 million hectares, only 0.11384 million hectares were improved, resulting in a 91.87% shortfall.
Similarly, an increase in forest cover was observed in only 0.03409 million hectares, a 97.57% shortfall against the 1.4 million hectares target. The audit attributed these shortcomings to factors such as inadequate convergence with other government programmes, insufficient funding, poor planning, and weak monitoring mechanisms.
The GIM, one of eight missions under India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, aims to improve ecosystem services and increase means of forest-based livelihood, crucial for India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
