Lok Sabha Question No. 134 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Forest Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD, ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  134*

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2017

## Forest Land

- *134.   SHRI D.S. RATHOD: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the total area of forest land in the country, State-wise;
- (b) the increase/decrease registered in the area of forest land during each of the last five years along with the reasons for the same State-wise;
- (c) whether  forest  land  is  being  encroached  in  large  scale  in  various  parts  of  the  country including Kerala; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN):

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*******

## Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 134 by Shri D.S. Rathod and Shri Anto Antony due for reply on 25.07.2017.

- (a) & (b) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun a subordinate organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report. As per the latest report i.e. India State of Forest Report 2015, the total forest cover of the country is  7,01,673  square  kilometers  which  is  21.34%  of  the  total  geographical  area  of  the country.  There  is  a  net  increase  of  3775  square  kilometers  in  the  forest  cover  of  the country as compared with forest cover as per India State of Forest Report-2013. Further, the  tree  cover  outside  forest  in  the  country  is  estimated  to  be  92,572  square  kilometers which  is  2.82%  of  the  total  geographical  area  of  the  country.  The  total  forest  and  tree cover outside forest in the country as per India State of Forest Report-2015 is 7,94,245 square kilometers which is 24.16% of the geographical area of the country. The detailed list showing forest cover and change in forest cover States/UTs wise is given in Annexure I. The name of the States/UTs  showing increase/decrease in the forest  cover alongwith reasons are given in Annexure- II and Annexure-III.
- (c) & (d)  As per the information received from the State/UTs Forest Department, the total forest area under  encroachment including  Kerala  is  1372351.53  hectare.  The State/UT-wise  details are  given  in Annexure  IV. Protection  and  Management  of  Forests  is  primarily  the responsibility  of  the  concerned  State/UT  Forest  Department.  Various  actions  to  remove encroachment are taken as per the provisions under various acts such as Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and various rules made under these and State specific acts and rules.

To prevent fresh encroachments, various measures are taken by State Forest Departments, such as survey and demarcation of forest areas, construction of boundary pillars and check posts,  use  of  modern  technology  (that  includes  wireless  network,  remote  sensing, Geographical Information System,  Global Positioning System), improved mobility to the field staff by providing vehicles for patrolling, etc. Local communities  are  also encouraged and involved in conservation, protection and management of forests through Joint Forest Management Committees/Village level committees.

********

## Annexure I

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 134 due for answer on 25.07.2017 regarding 'Forest Land'

Change in Forest Cover in States/UTs as per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) - 2015

(Area in square Kilometers)

| States/UTs          | Geographical Area   | Total Forest Cover 2011   | Total Forest Cover 2013   | Total Forest Cover 2015   |   Change in Forest Cover w.r.t. 2013 |
|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 1,60,204            | 46389 (include Telangana) | 24,357                    | 24,424                    |                                67    |
| Arunachal Pradesh   | 83,743              | 67410                     | 67321                     | 67,248                    |                               -73    |
| Assam               | 78,438              | 27673                     | 27671                     | 27,623                    |                               -48    |
| Bihar               | 94,163              | 6845                      | 7291                      | 7,288                     |                                -3    |
| Chhattisgarh        | 1,35,191            | 55674                     | 55621                     | 55,586                    |                               -35    |
| Delhi               | 1,483               | 176.2                     | 180                       | 189                       |                                 9    |
| Goa                 | 3,702               | 2219                      | 2219                      | 2,224                     |                                 5    |
| Gujarat             | 1,96,022            | 14619                     | 14653                     | 14,660                    |                                 7    |
| Haryana             | 44,212              | 1608                      | 1586                      | 1,584                     |                                -2    |
| Himachal Pradesh    | 55,673              | 14679                     | 14683                     | 14,696                    |                                13    |
| Jammu &Kashmir      | 2,22,236            | 22539                     | 22538                     | 22,988                    |                               450    |
| Jharkhand           | 79,714              | 22977                     | 23473                     | 23,478                    |                                 5    |
| Karnataka           | 1,91,791            | 36194                     | 36132                     | 36,421                    |                               289    |
| Kerala              | 38,863              | 17300                     | 17922                     | 19,239                    |                              1317    |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 3,08,245            | 77700                     | 77522                     | 77,462                    |                               -60    |
| Maharashtra         | 3,07,713            | 50646                     | 50632                     | 50,628                    |                                -4    |
| Manipur             | 22,327              | 17090                     | 16990                     | 16,994                    |                                 4    |
| Meghalaya           | 22,429              | 17275                     | 17288                     | 17,217                    |                               -71    |
| Mizoram             | 21,081              | 19117                     | 19054                     | 18,748                    |                              -306    |
| Nagaland            | 16,579              | 13318                     | 13044                     | 12,966                    |                               -78    |
| Odisha              | 1,55,707            | 48903                     | 50347                     | 50,354                    |                                 7    |
| Punjab              | 50,362              | 1764                      | 1772                      | 1,771                     |                                -1    |
| Rajasthan           | 3,42,239            | 16087                     | 16086                     | 16,171                    |                                85    |
| Sikkim              | 7,096               | 3359                      | 3358                      | 3,357                     |                                -1    |
| Tamil Nadu          | 1,30,058            | 23625                     | 23844                     | 26,345                    |                              2501    |
| Telangana           | 114,865             | -                         | 21759                     | 21,591                    |                              -168    |
| Tripura             | 10,486              | 7977                      | 7866                      | 7,811                     |                               -55    |
| Uttar Pradesh       | 2,40,928            | 14338                     | 14349                     | 14,461                    |                               112    |
| Uttarakhand         | 53,483              | 24496                     | 24508                     | 24,240                    |                              -268    |
| West Bengal         | 88,752              | 12995                     | 16805                     | 16,828                    |                                23    |
| A&N Islands         | 8,249               | 6724                      | 6711                      | 6,751                     |                                40    |
| Chandigarh          | 114                 | 17                        | 17.26                     | 22,.03                    |                                 4.77 |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 491                 | 211                       | 213                       | 206                       |                                -7    |
| Daman &Diu          | 112                 | 6                         | 9                         | 19.61                     |                                10.61 |
| Lakshadweep         | 32                  | 27                        | 27.06                     | 27.06                     |                                 0    |
| Puducherry          | 480                 | 50                        | 50.06                     | 55.38                     |                                 5.32 |
| Grand Total         | 32,87,263           | 692027                    | 697898                    | 701,673                   |                              3775    |

## Annexure II

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 134 due for answer on 25.07.2017 regarding 'Forest Land'

## States showing increase in forest cover and reasons for increase.

| S. No.   | State/UTs        | Change (Km2)   | Reasons for increase.                                                  |
|----------|------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Tamil Nadu       | 2,501          | Successful agro forestry practices, better conservation of forests etc |
| 2        | Kerala           | 1,317          | Commercial plantations                                                 |
| 3        | Jammu & Kashmir  | 450            | Improvement of scrub areas to forest areas                             |
| 4        | Karnataka        | 289            | Plantation activities                                                  |
| 5        | Uttar Pradesh    | 112            | Plantation activities and better protection                            |
| 6        | Rajasthan        | 85             | Plantation activities and better protection                            |
| 7        | Andhra Pradesh   | 67             | Plantation activities                                                  |
| 8        | A&N Ireland      | 40             | Increase in mangrove cover and conservation and protection activities  |
| 9        | West Bengal      | 23             | Plantation activities and coppice growth                               |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh | 13             | Plantation and conservation activities                                 |
| 11       | Others Delhi     | 9              | Plantation and protection mostly in ToF area.                          |
| 12       | Goa              | 5              | Increase in mangroves areas.                                           |
| 13       | Gujarat          | 7              | Increase in mangroves cover and plantation activities.                 |
| 14       | Jharkhand        | 5              | Plantation and Protection activity                                     |
| 15       | Manipur          | 4              | Plantation and Conservation activity                                   |
| 16       | Odisha           | 7              | Better Conservation in mangroves and plantation activities             |
| 17       | Chandigarh       | 4.8            | Plantation and protection activities                                   |
| 18       | Daman &Diu       | 10             | Commercial plantations                                                 |
| 19       | Puducherry       | 5              | Plantations                                                            |
|          | Total            | 4955           |                                                                        |

## Annexure III

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 134 due for answer on 25.07.2017 regarding 'Forest Land'

## States showing decrease in forest cover and reasons for decrease.

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs          |   Change (km2) | Reasons for decrease                                                          |
|-----------|---------------------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Mizoram             |           -306 | Shifting cultivation and other Biotic pressure                                |
| 2         | Uttarakhand         |           -268 | Rotational felling and diversion of forest lands for developmental activities |
| 3         | Telangana           |           -168 | Shifting cultivation and other Biotic pressure                                |
| 4         | Nagaland            |            -78 | Shifting cultivation and other Biotic pressure                                |
| 5         | Arunachal Pradesh   |            -73 | Shifting cultivation and diversion of forest lands for development activities |
| 6         | Meghalaya           |            -71 | Shifting cultivation and other Biotic pressure                                |
| 7         | Madhya Pradesh      |            -60 | Rotational felling, submergence of forest cover encroachment etc              |
| 8         | Tripura             |            -55 | Shifting cultivation and encroachment on forest lands                         |
| 9         | Assam               |            -48 | Rotational felling, Shifting cultivation, Biotic pressure etc.                |
| 10        | Chhattisgarh        |            -35 | Rotational felling, diversion of forest land for other activities etc         |
| 11        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli |             -7 | Heavy biotic pressure                                                         |
| 12        | Maharashtra         |             -4 | Rotational felling, diversion of forest land, encroachment etc.               |
| 13        | Bihar               |             -3 | Interpretational changes.                                                     |
| 14        | Haryana             |             -2 | Rotational felling and diversion of land for non forestry purposes.           |
| 15        | Punjab              |             -1 | Rotational felling                                                            |
| 16        | Sikkim              |             -1 | Road construction, shifting cultivation and land slide                        |
|           | Total               |          -1180 |                                                                               |

## Annexure-IV

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 134 due for answer on 25.07.2017 regarding 'Forest Land'

## State/UTs wise details of Encroachment on Forest Land

| S. No.   | Name of States/UTs   | Area of Encroachment (in ha.)   | As on Date   |
|----------|----------------------|---------------------------------|--------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh       | 1690.72                         | 31.03.2016   |
| 2        | Bihar                | 132.21                          | 31.03.2015   |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh         | 19330.64                        | 31.01.2016   |
| 4        | Gujarat              | 34791.00                        | 19.03.2011   |
| 5        | Goa                  | Nil                             | 25.02.2013   |
| 6        | Haryana              | 520.00                          | 31.03.2016   |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh     | 2339.02                         | 31.03.2016   |
| 8        | Jharkhand            | 27360.21                        | 31.07.2012   |
| 9        | Jammu &Kashmir       | 14345.02                        | 13.02.2014   |
| 10       | Karnataka            | 75826.76                        | 31.03.2016   |
| 11       | Kerala               | 56.43                           | 31.03.2016   |
| 12       | Madhya Pradesh       | 534717.28                       | 31.03.2016   |
| 13       | Maharashtra          | 67012.56                        | 31.03.2016   |
| 14       | Odisha               | 78505.08                        | 22.07.2011   |
| 15       | Punjab               | 6987.31                         | 31.03.2015   |
| 16       | Rajasthan            | 9003.91                         | 31.12.2015   |
| 17       | Tamil Nadu           | 15142.00                        | 16.07.2014   |
| 18       | Telangana            | 27775.64                        | 31.03.2016   |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh        | 23869.50                        | 29.02.2016   |
| 20       | Uttarakhand          | 9619.80                         | 30.06.2016   |
| 21       | West Bengal          | 13779.49                        | 31.03.2015   |
| 22       | Arunachal Pradesh    | 58636.13                        | 31.03.2016   |
| 23       | Assam                | 317215.39                       | 17.03.2015   |
| 24       | Manipur              | 1356.80                         | 31.03.2016   |
| 25       | Meghalaya            | 9378.00                         | 12.03.2011   |
| 26       | Mizoram              | 9589.48                         | 31.03.2016   |
| 27       | Nagaland             | 8721.86                         | 26.07.2011   |
| 28       | Sikkim               | 2817.21                         | 31.03.2016   |
| 29       | Tripura              | 6.77                            | 08.08.2014   |
| 30       | A &NIslands          | 479.57                          | 31.03.2016   |
| 31       | Chandigarh           | 14.00                           | 31.03.2016   |
| 32       | D&NHaveli            | 614.40                          | 31.03.2013   |
| 33       | Daman &Diu           | 87.83                           | 28.09.2010   |
| 34       | Lakshadweep          | Nil                             | 28.08.2010   |
| 35       | Delhi                | 629.51                          | 11.04.2012   |
| 36       | Puducherry           | Nil                             | 21.10.2010   |
|          | TOTAL                | 1372351.53 (1.372 mha)          |              |