The Gujarat government has approved a new policy to make its cities greener.
It is called the Gujarat Urban Greening Policy, 2026.
Cities across the state must increase their green cover by at least 20% over the next 10 years.
Indian Masterminds reported this.
The policy covers all 169 urban local bodies (ULBs) in Gujarat.
These include 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipalities.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Key points
- Cities must add at least 20% green cover over 10 years.
- The policy covers 169 urban local bodies across Gujarat.
- Funding will depend on how well cities plant and maintain greenery.
- The policy will be reviewed every two years.
So how is this policy different from older plantation drives?
The policy goes beyond big tree-plantation campaigns.
The government wants green infrastructure to be a regular part of city planning.
The focus is on rising temperatures, pollution and stormwater management.
The policy aims to add greenery in many kinds of urban spaces.
Urban greening cells will be set up under the parks and gardens departments of municipal corporations.
Urban development authorities and area development authorities will also have these cells.
How will cities be ranked and rewarded?
The policy introduces an annual Green Star Rating Mechanism.
Cities will be assessed on plantation activity, sapling survival, access to green spaces and environmental outcomes.
Cities will be placed in three categories based on their scores.
The best city will receive the annual title, Ultimate Green City of Gujarat.
Well-performing cities can get extra state funding and priority access to grants.
Cities scoring below 50% for two years in a row will be placed on an improvement track.
Will the saplings really survive? What happens next?
The policy sets a minimum survival target of 80% for planted saplings.
Payments for plantation projects will depend on verified survival and plant health over at least five years.
The Gujarat Urban Development Mission will act as the technical nodal agency.
A state-level monitoring committee will supervise progress and expenditure.
The committee will meet every quarter in the first year, and twice a year after that.
The policy will remain in force for a decade from November 2026.
Nearly 48% of Gujarat's population lives in urban areas.
The government says the policy will make cities more liveable while easing the pressures of urbanisation.
