Lok Sabha Question No. 3212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Decrease in the Forest Area in Metropolitan Cities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3212

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## Decrease in the Forest Area in Metropolitan Cities

## 3212.  SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI:

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

- (a) whether there is a decrease in the forest area in the metropolitan cities of the country and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (b) whether  the  reduction  in  forests  in  metropolitan  cities  like  Delhi  is  also  increasing  the pollution and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE

CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the  assessment  of  forest  cover  of  the  country  biennially  since  1987  and  the  findings  are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The FSI has published a study for the first time on the decadal change in forest cover in seven major mega cities between ISFR 2011 and ISFR 2021.  As per the study, there is an increase in forest cover in some mega cities while there is decrease in forest cover in few other cities. Overall, there is an increase of 68 square kilometre in the forest cover of 7 major mega cities between ISFR 2011 to ISFR 2021. The details of decadal change in forest cover in seven mega cities between ISFR 2011 and ISFR  2021  are  given  in Annexure. The  increase  in  forest  cover  may  be  attributed  to conservation measures, afforestation activities, enhanced protection measures in plantation as well as in traditional forest areas, expansion of Tree Outside Forest.
- (b) The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  not  undertaken  any  study regarding correlation between reduction of forest and increase in the pollution.  In fact, as per the ISFR 2011 and ISFR 2021 reports, the forest cover of Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai has increased over a period of 10 years.

***

Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3212 due for answer on 20.03.2023 regarding 'Decrease in the Forest Area in Metropolitan Cities'

## Decadal change in Forest Cover in Major Mega Cities between ISFR 2011 and ISFR 2021

(Area in Square Kilometre)

| Mega Cities Name   | State       | ISFR 2011 Total   | ISFR 2021 Total Forest   | Decadal forest cover change as per ISFR 2011 to ISFR 2021   |
|--------------------|-------------|-------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|                    |             | Forest Cover      | Cover                    |                                                             |
| Ahmedabad          | Gujarat     | 17.96             | 9.41                     | -8.55                                                       |
| Bengaluru          | Karnataka   | 94.00             | 89.02                    | -4.98                                                       |
| Chennai            | Tamil Nadu  | 18.02             | 22.70                    | 4.68                                                        |
| Delhi              | Delhi       | 174.33            | 194.24                   | 19.91                                                       |
| Hyderabad          | Telangana   | 33.15             | 81.81                    | 48.66                                                       |
| Kolkata            | West Bengal | 2.52              | 1.77                     | -0.75                                                       |
| Mumbai             | Maharashtra | 101.74            | 110.77                   | 9.03                                                        |
| Total              | Total       | 441.72            | 509.72                   | 68.00                                                       |