Lok Sabha Question No. 1153 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Diversion of Forest Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1153

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Diversion of Forest Land

## 1153. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  each  of  the  proposals  sent  to  the  Union  Government    by  the  State Government of Andhra Pradesh for diversion of forest land for infrastructure projects in the new capital of Amaravati;
- (b) the status of each of the above proposalsand the reasons for pendency of the same; and
- (c) whether  there  has  been  a  long  delay  in  clearance  of  the  said  proposals  by  the  Forest Advisory Committee, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken with regard to proposals from the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE    IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) to (c) The  details  of  eachproposal  received  from  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  for infrastructure  projects  in  the  new  capital  of  Amaravati  and  status  thereof  is annexed. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had received a total of 10 proposals from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for seeking prior approval under Section-2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for infrastructure projects in the new capital of Amaravati.  Out of these 10 proposals one  proposal  has  been  accorded  Stage-I/(in-principle)  approval,  two  proposals have been rejected and for the remaining seven proposals, State Government has been directed to submit revised proposals minimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.

***

## Annexure

## Annexure referred in the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 1153 by SHRI JAYADEV GALLA due for answer on 28.06.2019 regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'.

|   Sl. No | Name of the proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Status of the Proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Diversion of 2087.09 Ha (Tadepalli 251.77 Ha as this area falls in the proposed capital city and Venkatayapalem RF 1835.32 ha for establishment of Armed Forces Training institute and facilities such as State Police establishments, Greyhounds, Water Survivial Training facility, Military Station, Central Prision, Railway Academy, CRPF etc. for security reasons) of forest lands in Krishna & Guntur Divisions &Districts of Andhra Pradesh for establishment of Andhra Pradesh Capital in Andhra Pradesh | Every proposal received from the State Governments for seeking prior approval under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, is approved by the Union Government in two stages. Stage-I(in-principle) approval is given with some specific/general conditions and after complete compliance of the conditions stipulated in the Stage-I approval from the State Government, Stage-II(Final) approval is accorded. As far as this proposal is concerned Stage-I(in-principle) approval has been accorded on 20.09.2017. |
|        2 | Diversion of 890.43 hectare of forest land in Kondapalli Block, in favour of APCRDA for development of Centers for Sports, Physical Trainings and Agri-tourism under Capital City Infrastructure Development Projects, Andhra Pradesh-reg.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | The proposal was not approved since the State Government has not explored the possibilities for taking up the projects on non-forest land in the Capital Region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|        3 | Diversion of 1625.53 ha of forest land in VenkatayapalemExtn 1 &Extn 8 Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for development of Aerospace, Precision Engineering Innovation & Research and Green Mobility Park under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.                                                                                                         | The proposal was not approved since the State Government has not explored the possibilities for taking up the projects on non-forest land in the Capital Region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|        4 | Diversion of 123.82 ha of forest land in Mothadaka Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for setting up of Science City under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.                                                                                                                                                                                                | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposals minimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|        5 | Diversion of 250.08 ha of forest land in Kondaveedu Forest Block in Guntur                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposals minimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

|    | Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for development of Forest Academy, IIF&CC, Head Quarters of APFD, APFDC, APPCB and NGC under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh                                         | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Diversion of 371.80 ha of forest land in Karlapudi Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for development of E-5 Park under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.                         | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |
|  7 | Diversion of 434.85 ha of forest land in Kondaveedu Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for development of Integrated Institutional Complex under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |
|  8 | Diversion of 118.3 ha of forest land in Pedamaddur Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for development of Eco Tourist Village under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh               | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |
|  9 | Diversion of 150.84 ha of forest land in Kondavedu Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division & District of Andhra Pradesh for establishment of EcoTheme Park under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.                  | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |
| 10 | Diversion of 231.33 ha of forest land in Nidumukkala Forest Block in Guntur Forest Division &District of Andhra Pradesh for development of Bio Diversity Park under capital city infrastructure projects in AP Capital Region in favour of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh               | State Government has been directed to submit the revised proposalsminimising diversion of forest land and providing justification for such diversion.   |