The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out that the desired green belt area was not developed by industrial units in Chhattisgarh. The CAG in its report for the year ending March 31, 2015 observed: “As per rule 4.1 of the National Forest Policy, 1983, which was prepared on the basis of Environment Protection Rules, 1988, the national goal was to achieve a minimum of one-third of the total land area of the country under the forest area. Accordingly, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest issued direction that industries shall develop green belt all along the plant covering one third of total project area. It further provides that industries should plant 2500 saplings per hectare with broad leaf local species in consultation with the Forest Department. Scrutiny of records of selected 355 small scale industries revealed that required green belt area was not developed by 210 industries whereas in case of 145 industries, the status of plantation work was not verifiable due to non availability of information with the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB), the report stated. During the exit conference, the Secretary stated ( November 2015) that CECB had asked the industries to submit third party evaluation reports regarding green belt area developed by them. The fact remained that desired green belt area was not developed by the industries, it stated.