Union Environment & Forests Minister Jayaram Ramesh has said that his ministry is getting ready to launch Green India Mission aimed at enhancing and protecting the forest cover of the country in a big way. Inaugurating the regional conference of forest ministers from south India at Thiruvananthapuram, he said that the Prime Minister will give final approval to the mission at a high level meeting to be held by the month end. Mr Jayaram Ramesh also clarified that conditional clearance to Posco steel plant in Odisha is a well thought out decision based on assurance that Forest Rights Act 2006 will not be violated. Urging the southern states to take tangible steps to preserve the fragile bio-diversity of the western ghats Jayaram Ramesh said that eastern ghats is equally crucial especially for states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Minister said that under the green India Mission five million hectares of forest cover is to be created and another five million hectares to be protected in the next ten years. Gram sabhas and self help groups will be involved in this innovative and unconventional greening mission to tackle effects of global warming. He asked the southern states to increase both quantity and quality of the forest cover of the region. Highlighting the importance of wetlands and mangroves Jayaram Ramesh reminded that mangroves of southern states has reduced to just eight per cent of mangrove cover in the country. Five day forest festival showcasing tribal life and photo exhibition highlighting rich forest cover of southern states will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan tomorrow.