Lok Sabha Question No. 4169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Decriminalisation of Indian Forest Act
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4169

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## Decriminalisation of Indian Forest Act

## 4169.  DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA):

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  amendments  to  decriminalise  the  existing provisions of the the Indian Forest Act, 1927;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has issued the draft amendments for public consultations;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of violations under the Act during the last three years, State-wise; and
- (f) other steps being taken by the Government for protection of forests in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) &(b) The Central Government has proposed to bring an amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927 for decriminalisation ofcertain sections, viz. section 26 (1) (d) and (e) and section 33 (1) (e), (f) and (g) of the said Act.
- (c) &(d) The Central Government had placed a Notice for Public Consultation for decriminalisation of certain minor offences under the Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927. Comments from State/ Union Territory Governments were also sought. Comments/suggestions  received  from  all  concerned  Stakeholders  were  examined and incorporated, as deemed fit, in the final bill.
- (e)&(f) The  State/UT  Government  takes  appropriate  actions  in accordance  with  the provisions  made  under  the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927  and  other  Central  and  State Specific Acts/ Rules for violations of the Acts. Accordingly, details of violations are not  compiled  at  the  level  of  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change.

To protect the forests, Ministry supports the efforts of the States/ UTs in prevention and  control  of  forest  fire  by  providing  financial  assistance  for  various  forest  fire prevention and management measures such as modern tools for fire extinguishing, use of communication and information technology, etc creation and maintenance of fire  lines  in  forest  areas,  engagement  of  fire  watchers,  creation  of  water  storage structures  in  forest  areas,  strengthening  of  forest  infrastructure,  procurement  of firefighting  equipment,  soil  and  moisture  conservation  works  in  high  risk  areas, awareness creation, incentivizing villages/communities for protection against forest fire  etc.  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Forest  Fire  Prevention  and  Management (FFPM) Scheme. The FFPM scheme strengthens the State Forest Departments for preparedness,  response,  control  and  mitigation  of  forest  fire  in  the  country.  This Ministry  has  established  Disaster  Management  Control  Room  having  a  toll  free helpline number (1800119334) for coordination with States and different Ministries for  forest  fire  and  chemical  disaster  related  issues.  In  order  to  restore  ecosystems and  increase  the  forest  cover  including  conservation  of  forests  in  the  country, afforestation  and  tree  plantation  activities  including  other  forestry  activities  are undertaken  by  States/UTs.  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change  (MoEFCC)  provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  under  various Centrally Sponsored Schemes to support and supplement the efforts of States and Union Territories.