OREANDA-NEWS. August 25, 2011.  In pursuance of Railways commitment towards environmental improvement through afforestation and also with a view to safeguard railway land against unauthorized occupation, Railways undertake tree plantation on a programmed basis. Vacant Railway land is generally in the form of thin strip along track. Railways undertake mass plantation on this vacant land, wherever feasible, in a manner so as to not affect the visibility of track and ensuring safe operations of trains.

 About 94 lakh saplings were planted each during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Target of plantation of saplings during 2011-12 is 100 lakh.

 This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.