Lok Sabha Question No. 2063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Survey of Forest Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai, Anurag Sharma, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Vijay Kumar Dubey, Ganesan Selvam, Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Kotagiri Sridhar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO. 2063

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

## Survey of Forest Areas

2063. SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has released the Detailed Project Reports of LiDAR based survey of forest areas in different States and if so, the details thereof indicating the number of States proposed to be covered;
- (b) the manner in which the project is likely to augment water and fodder in forest areas and  enrich  efficiency  of  regeneration  of  forests  and  thereby  reduce  human-animal conflicts;
- (c) whether  all  State  Governments  have  been  directed  to  work  to  make  this  project successful and if so, the response of the State Governments thereto; and
- (d) whether central funds have been used to survey forest areas of twenty six States and if so, the quantum of funds released and utilized for the purpose?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)   Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has commissioned a project for survey of degraded forest area in about 10000 ha  each in 26 States/UTs, using LiDAR technology  and  preparation  of    Detailed  Project  Reports(DPRs)  for  Soil  Moisture Conservation (SMC) works.10 DPRs pertaining to Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura States have been finalized so far.

The DPRs have been prepared using LiDAR  technology in which3-D(three dimensional)  DEM  (Digital  Elevation  Model),  is  prepared  based  on  survey  of vegetation,  streams  and  water  catchments.  The  DPRs  recommend  different  types  of soil  and  water  conservation  structures  such  as  Anicut,  Gabion,  Gully  Plug,  Mini percolation tank, Percolation Tank, Field bund, Sunken pond, Farm pond, Plantations of trees including fodder plants etc.

Appropriate  soil  and  water  conservation  structures  at  specific  locations  help  in catching  and  retention  of  rain  water  and  prevent  stream  run  off  which  helps  in groundwater recharge and greater surface water availability for wild animals and for regeneration of trees and grasses. It also prevents soil erosion, thus reducing further degradation  of  the  area.  The  resultant  improved  regeneration  and  enhanced  fodder availability in forest areas encourages wild animals to remain inside forest and not to enter the adjoining areas in search of food and fodder, thereby reducing human-animal conflict out of such wild animals.

- (c) All participating States have been advised to implement the DPRs with funds available with them, such as State Plan Funds, State Fund under Compensatory Afforestation Fund, Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) etc.
- (d) The  above  project  for  survey  and  DPR  preparations  has  been  awarded  to  M/S WAPCOS  (a  Government  of  India  Undertaking)  under  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti.  So far,Rs.6.18 crores have been released to the implementing agency for survey and DPR preparation.

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