The progress of afforestation will be monitored now via satellites, said Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The government today launched its ambitious Green Highways Policy under which the task of planting trees along highways will be carried out experts in plantation - non-profits, agencies and other organisations - instead of highways contractors.
The implementation and progress of plantation will be monitored via images by Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO and audit will involve modern information technology tools.
Under the old rule, highways developers had to allot one per cent of the total cost of the project for planting trees on either side of highways.
But indicating that the system led to rampant corruption, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said: "I'll just say that the plantation exercise has been unsatisfactory. We felt the need to bring in the experts. Those who construct highways had no expertise in plantation."
The experts, he said, will be working on contact basis. There is no dearth of money for the project.
India has 48 lakh km of road network, of which, only 96,000 km is national highways. "But we have decided to take up 1.5 lakh km of road for greening," he said. "This year the ministry has cleared road projects worth 1.3 lakh crore. So for the first year there will be Rs 1300 crore and Rs 5000 crore over the next 5 years."
Contracts for greening will be given to NGOS, agencies, private companies and government organisations with proven track record in the past in the field. Those selected will be responsible for the survival and health of trees and will be strictly monitored by a body appointed by the ministry.
"Performance will decide the continuation of contract for next cycle and allocation of funds," Mr Gadkari said.
The ministry has already tied up with ISRO for regular satellite images to monitor the progress of plantation exercise.
The new policy, the minister said, will generate nearly 5 lakh jobs especially for rural poor over the next five years.