Even as Gujarat is being portrayed as one of the most progressive states in the country with rapid industrial development, the forest cover in the state is increasing over the years. Gujarat's forest cover has increased by 16 sq km, the minister of state for environment and forests Jayanthi Natarajan informed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In a written reply to a question, the minister informed that there has been a net increase of 728 sq km of forest cover in the country. Quoting figures from India State of Forest Report 2009, the minister informed that forest cover in Gujarat increased by 16 sq km. As per the report, of the total Geographical Area (GA) of 196,022 sq km, about 7.46 per cent or 14,620 sq km is under forest cover in the state.