Forest cover shrinking in Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Green cover in 10 major cities, including metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, is shrinking gradually, the Indian parliament was informed Thursday.

According to the environment and forest ministry, the green cover in Ahmedabad has shrunk to 144 sq km from 177 sq km in 2003.

While in Kolkata the green cover has fallen from 2,667 sq km to 2,649 sq km, in Bangalore it is now 992 sq km, a reduction of 34 sq km from 2003. The green canopy has lost 15 sq km in Surat (Gujarat).

There has also been a marginal decline in what the ministry called 'forest cover' in Hyderabad, Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh), Vadodara and Rajkot (both in Gujarat).

Meanwhile, Mumbai has done a fantastic job by increasing its forest cover to 5,406 sq km as against 5,130 sq km in 2003 - a whopping increase of 276 sq km.

In Delhi and Chennai, too, the green area has increased to some extent. Delhi has reported an increase of five sq km, and Chennai has seen an addition of 11 sq km.