Lok Sabha Question No. 702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Unabated felling of Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Malook Nagar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 702 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Unabated felling of Trees

## 702. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

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

- (a) the details of the policy regarding prevention of unabated felling of trees for the purpose of developmental works;
- (b) the policy being ensivaged/formulated by the Government for protection of environment  from  pollution  caused  by  excessive  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  and pesticides; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  schemes  formulated  by  the  Government  to  tackle  the  problems  of floods, landslides and soil erosion due to excessive rains in monsoon areas?

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

- (a) The trees are removed only when it is absolutely necessary. Moreover, as per the Government  policy,  more  trees  are  planted  than  number  of  trees  approved  for removal under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Because of this policy, India's forest  cover  is  increasing.  As  per  the  provisions  of  Forest  (Conservation)  Act, 1980,  Government  of  India  accords  prior  permission  for  use  of  forest  land  for non-forest purposes. Such permissions are accorded with the recommendation of the  concerned State/UT and for inescapable projects/purposes. While according permission  under  the  provisions  of  the  Act,  the  Central  Government  allows removal of minimum number trees. Moreover, conditions regarding translocation of trees and phase wise removal of trees under the strict supervision of State/UT Forest Department are invariably stipulated to minimize the number of trees to be removed.
- (b) There  is  no  harmful  effect  of  fertilizers  applied  in  a  balanced  and  judicious manner. Government  recommends  soil  health  test based use of chemical fertilizers,  bio-fertilizers  and  locally  available  organic  manures  like  Farm  Yard Manure, compost, vermi-compost and green manure etc. to maintain soil health and its productivity.

Pesticides are toxic substances but they do not pose any adverse effect on human beings, animals and the environment if they are used as per the label and leaflet approved by the Registration Committee. Pesticides are registered for use in the country by the Registration Committee only after satisfying about their efficacy and safety to human health, animal and environment.

However,  with  regard  to  the  safety  and  efficacy,  registered  pesticides  are periodically reviewed. On receipt of new studies / reports/ references/ information by  government  from  time  to  time,  the  review  is  done  by  appointing  expert committees. Based on the recommendations of such expert committees and after due consultation with Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture takes appropriate action for import, manufacture or sale of pesticides in the country.

- (c) The Central Government implements a scheme namely, 'Flood Management and Border  Areas  Programme  (FMBAP)",  which  has  components  such  as  river management,  anti-erosion,  restoration  of  damaged  flood  management  works, anti-sea erosion, flood proofing, etc.

Further,  the  Central  Government  has  launched  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme namely, 'Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana' for the development of rainfed/degraded  lands.  The  activities  undertaken, inter-alia ,  include  ridge  area treatment,  drainage  line  treatment,  soil  &  moisture  conservation,  rain  water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture,  pasture  development, livelihood for assetless persons, etc. Under this scheme an amount of Rs.19,709.29  crore  has  been  released  as  Central  share  to  the  States  as  on 31.01.2021.  Since  2014-15  to  2020-21,  approximately  32.44  lakh  farmers  are benefited from the scheme by undertaking construction/rejuvenation of approximately  7.093  lakh  water  harvesting  structures  and  covering  additional area of 15.17 lakh under protective irrigation.

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