Pune, Jul 28 (PTI) India's forest cover has grown by over 15,000 sq kms in the five years of the Modi government, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Sunday.

He was speaking on the sidelines an event here.

When asked about Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala's statement in which he said that the government has given permission to cut over one crore trees for development projects, Javadekar said that the Congress leader is picking up selectively on the number of trees felled for the development projects.

"But he forgets that in the main answer (given in the Parliament) it is clearly mentioned that within two years, 8,000 sq kms of forest cover has increased and in the five years of the Modi government, more than 15,000 sq kms of forest cover is increased," the minister said.

"It is far better than the erstwhile UPA government," he added.

Javadekar also took a dig at Surjewala saying that instead of speaking on such issues, he should answer who the president of the Congress party is.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)