Cabinet OKs green law for eco-friendly ULBs

Lucknow: With an aim to drive sustainable and eco-friendly growth in urban local bodies, the UP cabinet has approved the Urban Green Policy proposed by the urban development department.
The primary goal of the policy is to encourage and support green initiatives, making cities more sustainable and resilient. Under this policy, a Green City Monitoring System will be developed to evaluate and award Green Star ratings to cities based on their environmental efforts and green infrastructure. To mitigate the impact of climate change in urban areas, the policy promotes the development of vertical gardens, rooftop gardens, and Miyawaki forests.
The new policy outlines key steps to reduce the effects of climate change and protect the environment. It will be implemented through a three-level approach — focusing on the city, neighbourhood, and building levels.
In cities, dense mini-forests will be created using the Miyawaki method to accelerate green cover. Cities will also feature green belts, low-emission zones, sponge parks, and will host special green fairs.
Pocket parks and community gardens will be developed in neighbourhoods, while adopt-a-park programmes will be launched. At the building level, new constructions will be required to comply with green building standards, emphasising eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and green roofs.
The state will fund the Urban Green Policy through various central and state govt programmes such as AMRUT 2.0, the National Clean Air Programme, and grants from the Central and State Finance Commissions.
Urban Local Bodies can also generate funds through their own revenues, CSR contributions, and other sources.
The policy also aims to make the public an active participant in the initiative. Tree-planting drives will be organised in schools, offices, and institutions. The govt will also encourage rooftop and vertical gardens. To raise awareness, green fairs, workshops, and flower festivals will be held across the state.
A special Green City Monitoring Framework will be established to assess each city's progress. Cities will be rated based on their green cover and environmental efforts, and classified as Green City, Green +, Green ++, or Green +++. Monitoring will be conducted by local authorities, the state government, and independent organisations to ensure that cities take strong, timely actions to enhance their green infrastructure.
The best-performing city will be awarded the title of Ultimate Green City.

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