JAIPUR: Rajasthan will soon become the first state in the country to conduct a tree census. Provisions for a census are a mandatory part the Rajasthan Trees (plantation and protection in urban areas) Bill likely to be introduced in assembly this budget session.

The bill, which has been in the works for a long time, has been given an in-principal approval by the state government. On Tuesday, the state law review committee of the advocate general's (AG) office submitted the final draft and rules of the bill. Chief secretary C K Mathew has also asked concerned departments of law, finance and local self government to finalize the modalities so that it can be presented before the cabinet soon.