Nagar Van Yojana

Nagar Van Yojana helps create green urban forests across Indian cities. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change runs this central scheme through National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB), and it aims to develop 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas across the country during the period of 2020-21 to 2026-27. The scheme gives a grant of ₹4,00,000 per hectare to Municipalities, Urban Local Bodies and Institutions for afforestation and biodiversity conservation.

Nagar Van Yojana - Introduction

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, launched Nagar Van Yojana to bring more area under green cover and to reach out to cities that have a Municipality. The scheme has been reviewed and expanded over time, and today it targets 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas rather than the earlier target of 400 and 200. The main aim is to significantly improve tree cover outside forests, protect biodiversity and bring ecological benefits to urban and peri-urban areas.

A Nagar Van or Nagar Vatika is basically a forested area inside a city or close to it, which people can visit for recreation, education and to enjoy a cleaner environment. The scheme provides a one-time development and non-recurring grant of ₹4,00,000 per hectare, up to a maximum of ₹2,00,00,000 for 50 hectares. This money covers costs like fencing, soil-moisture conservation, theme-based plantations and maintenance of tree cover. Applicants must prepare a detailed project proposal, include a Keyhole Markup Language (KML) map on a scale of 1:10,000 or larger, and confirm they will bear any balance costs. Implementation is handled by the State Forest Department along with National Afforestation and Eco-development Board. During 2024-25, 125 projects were sanctioned under the scheme and an amount of ₹106.38 crore was released to 9 States and Union Territories.

During 2024-25 the Ministry sanctioned 125 projects and released ₹106.38 crore to 9 States and Union Territories. A second instalment of ₹26.40 crore was also released towards 86 projects in 4 States and Union Territories. This shows the scheme is being pushed forward strongly across the country. Applications are processed offline through the concerned State Forest Department offices.

Key Information

Benefits

Nagar Van Yojana offers cash support which helps urban areas turn open and empty land into usable green spaces. The grant is given as a one-time amount and covers the key works needed to create and maintain these urban forests.

• Ministry provides a one-time development and non-recurring grant of ₹4,00,000 per hectare for creating and maintaining these urban forests.
• Maximum financial support for a single Nagar Van is limited to ₹2,00,00,000 for 50 hectares, and any extra cost has to be met by the implementing body.
• State Forest Department may engage one technical consultant at a cost of ₹40,000 per month until the project is complete.
• State Forest Department gets a lump sum grant of ₹50,000 per project for monitoring, evaluation and overhead expenses.

Mode of Payment: Funds are released directly to State Forest Departments from National Fund under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The first instalment of 70% is released after the project is approved, and the remaining 30% comes after 60% use of the first instalment and after progress reports are submitted. Implementing agencies must keep a corpus in an interest-bearing government or public sector bank account, and an annual audit by a chartered accountant is required.

Components:

• Fencing of the identified area.
• Establishment and maintenance of woodlots or tree cover with locally suitable species.
• Theme-based plantations such as Smriti Van, Rashi or Nakshatra Van and Panchvati.
• Floral biodiversity including ornamental trees, medicinal plants, flowering plants and fruit trees.
• Irrigation and rainwater harvesting facilities.
• Public conveniences, drinking water points, benches, walkways and cycle tracks.
• Information and extension centre with display boards and signage.

Eligibility

Nagar Van Yojana is open to a broad set of organisations that have access to suitable land in or near a city. The land does not have to be forest land, as vacant non-forest public land can also be used. The applicant must also be ready to take responsibility for any project cost that goes beyond the grant amount.

• Applicants can be a Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Urban Local Body, State Forest Department, Educational Institution, University, Government Organisation, or NGO.
• Applicant must have possession of the proposed land, which can be forest land or vacant non-forest public land.
• Applicant must commit to bearing any project costs that exceed the grant amount.
• For Nagar Van: minimum 10 hectares and maximum 50 hectares area, situated within a 5 km limit of the city or municipal boundary, and at least two-thirds of the area must be under woodland or tree cover.
• For Nagar Vatika: minimum 1 hectare and maximum 10 hectares area, located within city limits.
• Project must encourage Public-Private Partnership and income generation so that the green space can be looked after for a long time.

Application Process

Offline Submission

Implementing agencies must follow an offline manual process to apply. There is no online portal, and the proposal has to move through the State Forest Department to the central authority.

STEP 1 - Prepare a detailed project proposal that includes the required documents and a KML boundary map on a scale of 1:10,000 or larger, along with GPS coordinates.

STEP 2 - Submit the proposal physically to the concerned State Forest Department for scrutiny and verification of the land details.

STEP 3 - State Forest Department evaluates the proposal and forwards the approved plan to National Afforestation and Eco-development Board under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

STEP 4 - National Authority reviews the proposal for final approval and release of funds.

STEP 5 - Once funds are released, State Forest Department transfers the designated grant amount to the implementing agency within seven days.

Documents

Every applicant has to submit a clear set of papers along with the project proposal. These documents help the State Forest Department and the central board verify the land, the plan and the cost.

• Detailed Project Proposal
• Keyhole Markup Language (KML) Map (1:10,000 scale or larger)
• Global Positioning System (GPS) boundary coordinates
• Development cum Management Plan with year-wise and item-wise cost
• Declaration of commitment to bear balance costs
• Utilisation Certificate and Progress Reports for later instalments
• Annual Audit Reports

References

• Official Scheme Guidelines (MoEFCC)
• National CAMPA Guidelines for Nagar Van Yojana

FAQ's

Is Nagar Van Yojana still running?

Yes. The scheme is being implemented for the period 2020-21 to 2026-27, and the target has been expanded to 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas across the country.

What happens if project costs exceed the ₹2,00,00,000 limit?

Implementing agency must give a firm commitment to cover any excess costs using its own resources.

Where must the project funds be kept?

Funds must be kept in an interest-bearing corpus account in a government or public sector bank, and an annual audit by a chartered accountant is required.

What is the minimum land size for a Nagar Vatika?

A Nagar Vatika needs a minimum area of 1 hectare and can go up to 10 hectares within city limits.

Is there a rule about woodland coverage?

Yes, at least two-thirds of the total area must be under tree cover for a Nagar Van.

Are private bodies allowed to take part?

Yes, the scheme encourages a Public-Private Partnership model to bring community participation and to help maintain the green space over time.

Can the project site be outside the city?

Yes, Nagar Vans can be developed up to 5 kilometres outside the municipal or city limits.