Lok Sabha Question No. 1994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-29
Subject: Forest Coverage
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BALABHADRA MAJHI, RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI, JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1994 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.12.2017

## Forest Coverage

## 1994. SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL:

SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  area  of  forest  in  the  country  in  hectares  and  the  percentage  thereof, State-wise;
- (b) the details of national average of forest area in terms of hectare and percentage;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to take any new initiative for expanding the forest area in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  scheme-wise,  State-wise  and  year-wise  details  of  funds  provided  by  the Government for conservation, development and promotion of forests in all the States including Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the achievements made as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (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  7,01,67,300 hectares which  is 21.34%  of  the  total geographical area of the country. Further, the tree cover outside forest in the country is estimated to be 92,57,200 hectares  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  7,94,24,500  hectares  which  is  24.16%  of  the geographical  area  of  the  country.  The  detailed  list  showing  forest  cover  and percentage of forest cover to the total geographical area States/UTs wise is given in Annexure I.
- (c) to (e)    To increase the forest cover in the country, afforestation programmes are taken up under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as National Afforestation Programme  (NAP), Green India Mission (GIM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Integrated Watershed Management

Programme (IWMP) (which from 2015-16 has been amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of the 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)') and under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

National Afforestation Programme (NAP) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests is  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for afforestation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas through people's participation in the country. The scheme is being implemented through a decentralized mechanism of State Forest Development agency (SFDA) at State Level, Forest Development agency (FDA) at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at Village level. An amount of Rs. 455.75 crore has been released to the States to treat an area of 141847 hectares including Maharashtra during the last three years including the current  year  (2014-15  to  2017-18).  The  State/UT  wise  details  of  release  of  funds under NAP scheme implemented by this Ministry and approved area including in the State of Maharashtra in the last three years and current year are given in AnnexureII and III respectively.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Mission outlined under the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change.  It  aims  at  protecting,  restoring  and enhancing  India's  forest  cover  and  responding  to  Climate.  GIM  activities  were started in the Financial Year 2015-16, so far fund amounting to Rs. 150.11 crore has been released under GIM to nine States for carrying out GIM activities. The State wise  details  of  area  approved  for  afforestation  and  corresponding  funds  released under GIM implemented by this Ministry from the year 2015-16 to 2017-18 is given in Annexure IV.

*********

## Annexure I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1994 due for answer on 29.12.2017 regarding 'Forest Coverage'.

## State/UTs wise Forest cover as per ISFR 2015.

(

Area in Hectares)

| States/UTs          | Geographical Area   | Total Forest Cover 2015   |   Percentage of geographical area |
|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 1,60,20,400         | 24,42,400                 |                             15.25 |
| Arunachal Pradesh   | 83,74,300           | 67,24,800                 |                             80.3  |
| Assam               | 78,43,800           | 27,62,300                 |                             35.22 |
| Bihar               | 94,16,300           | 7,28,800                  |                              7.74 |
| Chhattisgarh        | 1,35,19,100         | 55,58,600                 |                             41.12 |
| Delhi               | 1,48,300            | 18,900                    |                             12.73 |
| Goa                 | 3,70,200            | 2,22,400                  |                             60.08 |
| Gujarat             | 1,96,02,200         | 14,66,000                 |                              7.48 |
| Haryana             | 44,21,200           | 1,58,400                  |                              3.58 |
| Himachal Pradesh    | 55,67,300           | 14,69,600                 |                             26.4  |
| Jammu &Kashmir      | 2,22,23,600         | 22,98,800                 |                             10.34 |
| Jharkhand           | 79,71,400           | 23,47,800                 |                             29.45 |
| Karnataka           | 1,91,79,100         | 36,42,100                 |                             18.99 |
| Kerala              | 38,86,300           | 19,23,900                 |                             49.5  |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 3,08,24,500         | 77,46,200                 |                             25.13 |
| Maharashtra         | 3,07,71,300         | 50,62,800                 |                             16.45 |
| Manipur             | 22,32,700           | 16,99,400                 |                             76.11 |
| Meghalaya           | 22,42,900           | 17,21,700                 |                             76.76 |
| Mizoram             | 21,08,100           | 18,74,800                 |                             88.93 |
| Nagaland            | 16,57,900           | 12,96,600                 |                             78.21 |
| Odisha              | 1,55,70,700         | 50,35,400                 |                             32.34 |
| Punjab              | 50,36,200           | 1,77,100                  |                              3.52 |
| Rajasthan           | 3,42,23,900         | 16,17,100                 |                              4.73 |
| Sikkim              | 70,96,00            | 3,35,700                  |                             47.31 |
| Tamil Nadu          | 1,30,05,800         | 26,34,500                 |                             20.26 |
| Telangana           | 114,86,500          | 21,59,100                 |                             18.8  |
| Tripura             | 10,48,600           | 7,81,100                  |                             74.49 |
| Uttar Pradesh       | 2,40,92,800         | 14,46,100                 |                              6    |
| Uttarakhand         | 53,48,300           | 2,42,4000                 |                             45.32 |
| West Bengal         | 88,75,200           | 16,82,800                 |                             18.96 |
| A&N Islands         | 8,24,900            | 6,75,100                  |                             81.84 |
| Chandigarh          | 11,400              | 2203                      |                             19.32 |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 49,100              | 20,600                    |                             41.96 |
| Daman &Diu          | 11,200              | 1961                      |                             17.51 |
| Lakshadweep         | 3200                | 2706                      |                             84.56 |
| Puducherry          | 48,000              | 5538                      |                             11.54 |
| Grand Total         | 32,87,26,300        | 701,67,300                |                             21.34 |

## Annexure II

Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1994 due for answer on 29.12.2017 regarding 'Forest Coverage'.

## Details of funds released during last three years and current years ( 2014-15 to  2017-18) under National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme.

( Rs. in Crore)

| S. No.   | States               |   2014-15 |   2015-16 | 2016-17   |   2017-18 |
|----------|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh       |      4.56 |      0.87 | 1.33      |      3.36 |
| 2        | Bihar                |      7    |      5.01 | 2.18      |      4.23 |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh         |     20    |     10.2  | 4.92      |      8.58 |
| 4        | Goa                  |      0    |      0    | 0.00      |      0    |
| 5        | Gujarat              |     10.5  |      8.54 | 4.36      |      0    |
| 6        | Haryana              |     11    |      0.72 | 3.50      |      2.71 |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh     |      0.73 |      0    | -         |      1.73 |
| 8        | Jammu &Kashmir       |      3.59 |      0    | -         |      7.2  |
| 9        | Jharkhand            |      8.6  |      0    | -         |      0    |
| 10       | Karnataka            |     21.35 |      1.05 | 7.33      |      3.24 |
| 11       | Kerala               |      2.82 |      1.02 | -         |      0    |
| 12       | Madhya Pradesh       |     21    |      9.45 | 4.00      |      0    |
| 13       | Maharashtra          |     35    |     14.9  | 4.76      |      6.72 |
| 14       | Odhisa               |     17.92 |      9.49 | 4.62      |      3.49 |
| 15       | Punjab               |      1.87 |      0    | -         |      0    |
| 16       | Rajasthan            |      3.35 |      0.75 | -         |      1.4  |
| 17       | Tamil Nadu           |      4.25 |      1.42 | 1.56      |      0    |
| 18       | Telangana            |      2.03 |      0    | -         |      0    |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh        |     12    |      2.68 | 2.55      |      0.67 |
| 20       | Uttarakhand          |      2.5  |      3.05 | -         |      0    |
| 21       | West Bengal          |      0.78 |      0    | -         |      0    |
|          | Total (Other States) |    190.85 |     69.16 | 41.10     |     43.33 |
| 22       | Arunachal Pradesh    |      0.15 |      0    | -         |      0    |
| 23       | Assam                |      0    |      2.56 | -         |      0    |
| 24       | Manipur              |      8    |      3.67 | 1.21      |      0    |
| 25       | Meghalaya            |      3.61 |      1.35 | -         |      0    |
| 26       | Mizoram              |     15    |     10.17 | 6.74      |      4.34 |
| 27       | Nagaland             |     11    |      0    | 5.21      |      5.85 |
| 28       | Sikkim               |      6    |      1.52 | 5.09      |      0    |
| 29       | Tripura              |      9.17 |      5.73 |           |      4.94 |
|          | Total (NE States)    |     52.93 |     25    | - 18.25   |     15.13 |
|          | G. Total             |    243.78 |     94.16 | 59.35     |     58.46 |

## Annexure III

Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1994 due for answer on 29.12.2017 regarding 'Forest Coverage'.

Details of approved advance work area in hectares during last three years and current years ( 2014-15 to  2017-18) under National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme

(Area in hectare)

| S. No.   | States                    |   2014-15 |   2015-16 | 2016-17   | 2017-18   |
|----------|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh            |       810 |       913 | 445       | 1487      |
| 2        | Bihar                     |      1786 |      2500 | -         | 2450      |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh              |      4699 |      4475 | -         | 2983      |
| 4        | Goa                       |         0 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 5        | Gujarat                   |      5284 |      2755 | -         | -         |
| 6        | Haryana                   |      1900 |      2195 | -         | -         |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh          |      2237 |         0 | -         | 2139      |
| 8        | Jammu &Kashmir            |      1606 |         0 | -         | 2128      |
| 9        | Jharkhand                 |      3924 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 10       | Karnataka                 |      2900 |      2580 | -         | 2095      |
| 11       | Kerala                    |      1478 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 12       | Madhya Pradesh            |      4786 |      3655 | -         | -         |
| 13       | Maharashtra               |      6647 |      4135 | -         | 4150      |
| 14       | Odhisa                    |      6535 |      1980 | -         | 4565      |
| 15       | Punjab                    |      1628 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 16       | Rajasthan                 |      2550 |       800 | -         | 1400      |
| 17       | Tamil Nadu                |       750 |      1500 | -         | -         |
| 18       | Telangana                 |       795 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh             |      8548 |      2985 | -         | 0         |
| 20       | Uttarakhand               |      1330 |      2132 | -         | -         |
| 21       | West Bengal               |      2495 |         0 | -         | -         |
|          | Total (Other States)      |     62688 |     32605 | 445       | 23397     |
| 22       | Arunachal Pradesh         |      1000 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 23       | Assam                     |         0 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 24       | Manipur                   |      1835 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 25       | Meghalaya                 |         0 |         0 | -         | -         |
| 26       | Mizoram                   |      3135 |       905 | -         | 1750      |
| 27       | Nagaland                  |      2130 |         0 | -         | 2085      |
| 28       |                           |      1851 |         0 | 1914      | -         |
|          | Sikkim                    |      1796 |      2476 | -         | 1835      |
| 29       | Tripura Total (NE States) |     11747 |      3381 | 1914      | 5670      |
|          | G. Total                  |     74435 |     35986 | 2359      | 29067     |

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1994 due for answer on 29.12.2017 regarding 'Forest Coverage'.

The State wise details of area approved for afforestation and corresponding funds released under Green India Mission (GIM).

| Sl.   |                | FY 2015-16    | FY 2015-16    | FY 2015-16              | FY 2015-16              | FY 2016-17    | FY 2016-17    | FY 2016-17    | FY 2016-17    | FY 2016-17              | FY 2016-17              | FY 2017-18            | FY 2017-18            | FY 2017-18                    |
|-------|----------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------|
| Sl.   |                | Physical (ha) | Physical (ha) | Financial (in Rs. Lakh) | Financial (in Rs. Lakh) | Physical (ha) | Physical (ha) | Physical (ha) | Physical (ha) | Financial (in Rs. Lakh) | Financial (in Rs. Lakh) | Physical Targets (ha) | Physical Targets (ha) |                               |
| No.   |                | Target        | Achievement^  | Fund Released           | Fund Utilized           | Target        | Target        | Achievement^  | Achievement^  | Fund Released           | Fund Utilized           | Advance Work          | Maintenance Work      | Funds Released (in Rs. Lakhs) |
| Sl.   |                | Advance Work  | Advance Work  | Fund Released           | Fund Utilized           | Advance Work  | Creation Work | Advance Work  | Creation Work | Fund Released           | Fund Utilized           | Advance Work          | Maintenance Work      | Funds Released (in Rs. Lakhs) |
| 1     | Andhra Pradesh | -             | -             | -                       | -                       | 881           | -             | 534           | -             | 105.53                  | 8.7                     | -                     | -                     | -                             |
| 2     | Chhattisgarh   | 19128         | 19128         | 2338.55                 | 2338.55                 | -             | 19128         | -             | 19128         | 2023.017                | 2023.017                | -                     | 19128                 | 1095.272                      |
| 3     | Karnataka      | 760           | 760           | 105.53                  | 105.53                  | -             | 760           |               | 760           | 86.853                  | 86.853                  |                       |                       |                               |
| 4     | Kerala*        | 4978          | -             | 914.82                  | -                       | -             | -             | 2115          | -             | -                       | 383.118                 |                       |                       |                               |
| 5     | Manipur        | 8798          | 8798          | 834.84                  | 834.84                  | -             | 8798          | -             | 8798          | 782.285                 | 782.285                 | -                     | 8798                  | 641.579                       |
| 6     | Mizoram        | -             | -             | -                       | -                       | 19643         | -             | 19643         |               | 988.35                  | 988.35                  | 9774.6                | -                     | 2000.00                       |
| 7     | Odisha         | 2177.72       | 2177.72       | 182.92                  | 182.92                  | -             | 2094.4        | -             | 2094.4        | 138.964                 | 138.964                 | -                     | 2094.4                | 140.556                       |
| 8     | Punjab*        | 3000          | -             | 611.53                  | -                       | -             | -             | 1704          | 1286**        | -                       | 412.25                  |                       |                       |                               |
| 9     | Uttarakhand*   | 7483          | -             | 2020.9                  | -                       | -             | -             | -             | -             | -                       | -                       |                       |                       |                               |
| Total | Total          | 46324.7       | 30863.72      | 7009.09                 | 3461.84                 | 20524         | 30780.4       | 23996         | 32066.4       | 4125                    | 4823.537                | 9774.6                | 30020.4               | 3877.407                      |

Note: *Fund were revalidated for utilization in FY 2016-17.

** The State of Punjab has also carried out creation activities apart from advance work due to sandy geo- morphology.

^Achievements as reported by States.