Lok Sabha Question No. 109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Diversion of Forest Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 109

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## Diversion of Forest Land

## 109. SHRI T R BAALU:

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

- (a) the details of total extent of forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes since 2019, State wise;
- (b) the details of projects approved in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries during the said period;
- (c) the details of total area of Compensatory Afforestation completed during the last five years and the funds spent thereon; and
- (d) the details of the study conducted on the impact on wildlife due to non-forestry and industrial activities in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and policy corrections taken up to ensure the health of these forest wealth?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) As per the information available on PARIVESH portal, a total 95724.99 hectare of  forest  land  has  been  approved  for  non-forestry  use  under Van  (Sanrakshan Evam  Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,  1980  from  April  2019  to  March  2024.  The State/UT-wise detail is given in Annexure-I .
- (b) Details of the proposals recommended in the Wild life sanctuaries and National Parks is as follows:
- (c) The details of total area of Compensatory Afforestation completed during the last five years is annexed at Annexure-II and the funds spent thereon is annexed at Annexure-III.
- (d) Proposals for developmental activities within National Parks, Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Tiger Corridors and those activities requiring environmental clearance inside  Eco-sensitive  Zones  (ESZ)  around  National  Parks  and  Sanctuaries  are forwarded by State Governments for consideration by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL). The proposals are forwarded after  thorough scrutiny  by  the State Government and recommendations  of the State  Board  for  Wild  Life.  The  SCNBWL,  which  also  includes  eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists, takes informed decisions on the  proposals  placed  for  its  consideration  and  also  suggests  the  mitigation measures.

| Year      |   Number of proposals recommended |
|-----------|-----------------------------------|
| 2019-20   |                                71 |
| 2020-21   |                                85 |
| 2021-2022 |                               154 |
| 2022-2023 |                               150 |
| 2023-2024 |                               421 |

Apart  from  this  the  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  steps  to  protect  and conserve wildlife and endangered species of flora and fauna. These include:

- i. Financial  assistance  to  States/Union Territories  under  the  Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger'  and  'Project  Elephant'  for  development  of  wildlife  and  its habitat, for activities like creation and maintenance of water holes for wild  animals  in  Protected  Areas,  soil  and  moisture  conservation measures, establishment of anti-poaching camps, strengthening wildlife veterinary care, eradication of weeds, creation and maintenance of fire lines, awareness generation.
- ii. Providing financial assistance to States/UTs for the recovery programme  of  critically  endangered  species  under  the  component Recovery programme for saving of critically endangered species and habitats under CSS- 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'. A total of 22 critically endangered species have been identified under this programme.
- iii. Creation  of  Sanctuaries,  National  Parks,  Conservation  Reserves, Community  Reserves,  and  Tiger  Reserves,  for  conservation  and protection of wildlife and its habitats.
- iv. Rare  and  endangered  species  of  animals  found  in  India  like  Snow Leopard,  Olive  Ridley  Turtles,  Great  Indian  Bustard,  Gangetic Dolphin, Dugong, etc. have been listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection)  Act,  1972,  thereby  providing  the  highest  degree  of protection.
- v. The Wild  Life  (Protection) Act,  1972  provides  for  punishment  for violation of its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing  wildlife offence.
- vi. Law enforcement authorities in the  States/UTs  maintain strict vigil against poaching of wild animals.
- vii. Wild Life Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles
8. and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
- viii. The Ministry has formulated the 3 rd  'National Wildlife Action Plan' for a period of 2017 to 2031 to save wild animals in the country. The Plan focuses  on  landscape  approach in  conservation  of  all  wildlife irrespective  of  where  they  occur.  It  also  gives  special  emphasis  to recovery  of  threatened  species  of  wildlife  while  conserving  their habitats which includes terrestrial, inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.
- ix. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the National  Marine Turtle Action  Plan  (2021-2026)  in  January  2021, which provides for priority actions for conservation of marine turtles and their habitat.
- x. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the Vulture Conservation Action  Plan  (2020-2025)  in  November  2020, which  provides  for  conservation  measures  for  vultures  and  their habitats.
- xi. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the Advisory for  management of Human Wildlife Conflict in February 2021, which also provides for improvement of wildlife habitats.
- xii. A National Action Plan for conservation of migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway has been launched.
- xiii. Local communities have been involved in conservation of migratory species  e.g.  Amur  Falcon  in  State  of  Nagaland;  Whale  Shark  in Gujarat; Dugong in Tamil Nadu; Olive Ridley Turtles in Odisha.
- xiv. India is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). India has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on conservation  of  Siberian  Cranes,  Marine  Turtles,  Dugongs  and Raptors.
- xv. In order to further strengthen conservation of wildlife, Eco-Sensitive Zones  (ESZs)  are  notified  around  National  Parks  and  Sanctuaries under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- xvi. In  order  to  reduce  the  impact  of  linear  infrastructure  projects  like railway lines on wildlife, the Ministry has developed and mandated the implementation of guidelines named 'Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wildlife'. These guidelines suggest suitable mitigation measures for linear infrastructure  projects taking  into  consideration  factors  such  as terrain, animal behavior patterns, animal migration routes, and other relevant parameters.
- xvii. The Ministry has also issued guidelines regarding proposals for 4G connectivity within National Parks and Sanctuaries.

*****

## Annexure-I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'

Details showing State/UT wise forest area diverted for non-forestry purpose under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980

| Category: All Categories   | Category: All Categories           | During the Period : 01/04/2019 to 31/03/2024   | During the Period : 01/04/2019 to 31/03/2024   |
|----------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                     | STATE / UT                         | No. of Proposal                                | Area Approved (in Ha.)                         |
| 1                          | Andaman and Nicobar                | 19                                             | 102.98                                         |
| 2                          | Andhra Pradesh                     | 47                                             | 1593.97                                        |
| 3                          | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 75                                             | 8744.78                                        |
| 4                          | Assam                              | 31                                             | 1719.17                                        |
| 5                          | Bihar                              | 265                                            | 1532.36                                        |
| 6                          | Chandigarh                         | 2                                              | 0.10                                           |
| 7                          | Chhattisgarh                       | 41                                             | 3229.78                                        |
| 8                          | Dadar &Nagar Haveli &Daman and Diu | 34                                             | 53.38                                          |
| 10                         | Delhi                              | 12                                             | 116.92                                         |
| 11                         | Goa                                | 21                                             | 280.45                                         |
| 12                         | Gujarat                            | 1512                                           | 7402.97                                        |
| 13                         | Haryana                            | 1451                                           | 1855.29                                        |
| 14                         | Himachal Pradesh                   | 328                                            | 2058.14                                        |
| 15                         | Jammu and Kashmir                  | 55                                             | 577.30                                         |
| 16                         | Jharkhand                          | 95                                             | 4303.34                                        |
| 17                         | Karnataka                          | 118                                            | 1838.19                                        |
| 18                         | Kerala                             | 99                                             | 156.15                                         |
| 19                         | Madhya Pradesh                     | 909                                            | 22614.74                                       |
| 20                         | Maharashtra                        | 226                                            | 2713.60                                        |
| 21                         | Manipur                            | 32                                             | 1540.95                                        |
| 22                         | Meghalaya                          | 7                                              | 33.99                                          |
| 23                         | Mizoram                            | 21                                             | 460.92                                         |
| 24                         | Odisha                             | 146                                            | 13621.95                                       |
| 25                         | Punjab                             | 1073                                           | 1912.42                                        |
| 26                         | Rajasthan                          | 274                                            | 3869.63                                        |
| 27                         | Sikkim                             | 42                                             | 212.55                                         |
| 28                         | Tamil Nadu                         | 86                                             | 126.66                                         |
| 29                         | Telangana                          | 116                                            | 1637.25                                        |
| 30                         | Tripura                            | 108                                            | 1181.35                                        |
| 31                         | Uttar Pradesh                      | 976                                            | 6184.64                                        |
| 32                         | Uttarakhand                        | 468                                            | 3323.48                                        |
| 33                         | West Bengal                        | 42                                             | 725.58                                         |
| Grand Total                | Grand Total                        | 8731                                           | 95724.99                                       |

Source :

https://parivesh.nic.in

| Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   | Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 109 due for reply on 22.07.2024 by Shri T R BAALU regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land'   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             | State/UT wise details of the Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (Area in Ha)                                                                                             |
| Sl. No.                                                                                                                                                                                 | Name of the State/UT                                                                                                                                                                    | 2019-20                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2020-21                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2021-22                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2022-23                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2023-24                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                       | Andaman& Nicobar Islands                                                                                                                                                                | 14.04                                                                                                                                                                                   | 10.01                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                    | 36.56                                                                                                                                                                                   | 114.50                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                       | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                          | 1473.17                                                                                                                                                                                 | 509.04                                                                                                                                                                                  | 491.69                                                                                                                                                                                  | 845.04                                                                                                                                                                                  | 643.62                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                       | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                       | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1830.7                                                                                                                                                                                  | 12193.93                                                                                                                                                                                | 4458.67                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2857.828                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                       | Assam                                                                                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 793.578                                                                                                                                                                                 | 120.62                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 385.56                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                       | Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                   | 189.08                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1661.506                                                                                                                                                                                | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1321.09                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1321.09                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                       | Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 25.29                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.14                                                                                                                                                                                    | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                       | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                                                            | 2827.04                                                                                                                                                                                 | 865.33                                                                                                                                                                                  | 420.30                                                                                                                                                                                  | 442.74                                                                                                                                                                                  | 94.60                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                       | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 47.54                                                                                                                                                                                   | 23.02                                                                                                                                                                                   | 70.58                                                                                                                                                                                   | 37.34                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                                       | Goa                                                                                                                                                                                     | 40.00                                                                                                                                                                                   | 200.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 200.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 299.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 470.00                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                                      | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1922.42                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1019.85                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3733.55                                                                                                                                                                                 | 4629.97                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2174.26                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                                      | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                                 | 293.77                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1240.02                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1870.22                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1608.83                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                                      | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                        | 525.07                                                                                                                                                                                  | 876.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 947.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 885.00                                                                                                                                                                                  | 888.00                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                                      | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                                                         | 962                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3110.92                                                                                                                                                                                 | 704                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1288                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                                      | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                                               | 3687.253                                                                                                                                                                                | 2734.493                                                                                                                                                                                | 3324.858                                                                                                                                                                                | 3202.83 3                                                                                                                                                                               | 2789.83                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                                      | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                               | 615.16                                                                                                                                                                                  | 194.53                                                                                                                                                                                  | 522.77                                                                                                                                                                                  | 715.01                                                                                                                                                                                  | 611.14                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                                      | Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 34.51                                                                                                                                                                                   | 78.71                                                                                                                                                                                   | 65                                                                                                                                                                                      | 117.26                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 17                                                                                                                                                                                      | Ladakh                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 18                                                                                                                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                          | 4019.90                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3823.06                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3520.00                                                                                                                                                                                 | 6286.41                                                                                                                                                                                 | 5447.01                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 19                                                                                                                                                                                      | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                             | 2741.536                                                                                                                                                                                | 600.96                                                                                                                                                                                  | 218.55                                                                                                                                                                                  | 182.278                                                                                                                                                                                 | 513.39                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 20                                                                                                                                                                                      | Manipur                                                                                                                                                                                 | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                    | 666.94                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 21                                                                                                                                                                                      | Meghalaya                                                                                                                                                                               | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 25.69                                                                                                                                                                                   | 286.74                                                                                                                                                                                  | 199.52                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2857.83                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 22                                                                                                                                                                                      | Mizoram                                                                                                                                                                                 | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1236.50                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1303.78                                                                                                                                                                                 | 29.96                                                                                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 23                                                                                                                                                                                      | Odisha                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3399.60                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3802.20                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3501.45                                                                                                                                                                                 | 4594.88                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1628.66                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 24                                                                                                                                                                                      | Punjab                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1321.98                                                                                                                                                                                 | 311.978                                                                                                                                                                                 | 644.995                                                                                                                                                                                 | 800.383                                                                                                                                                                                 | 940.384                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 25                                                                                                                                                                                      | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                                               | 2610.59                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2147.85                                                                                                                                                                                 | 808.52                                                                                                                                                                                  | 444.79                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1365.40                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 26                                                                                                                                                                                      | Sikkim                                                                                                                                                                                  | 171.64                                                                                                                                                                                  | 106.64                                                                                                                                                                                  | 183.98                                                                                                                                                                                  | 94.67                                                                                                                                                                                   | 44.78                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 27                                                                                                                                                                                      | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                                                              | 2.19                                                                                                                                                                                    | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     | 82.57                                                                                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 28                                                                                                                                                                                      | Telangana                                                                                                                                                                               | 4414.51                                                                                                                                                                                 | 4178.16                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2490.07                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2052.71                                                                                                                                                                                 | 551.12                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 29                                                                                                                                                                                      | Tripura                                                                                                                                                                                 | 484.34                                                                                                                                                                                  | 182.80                                                                                                                                                                                  | 391.86                                                                                                                                                                                  | 566.40                                                                                                                                                                                  | 669.85                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 30                                                                                                                                                                                      | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                           | 682.71                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1070.08                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1011.08                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1538.98                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1231.64                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 31                                                                                                                                                                                      | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                                             | 3222.45                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2597.28                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2852.05                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2415                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1697.22                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 32                                                                                                                                                                                      | West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                             | 97.71                                                                                                                                                                                   | 122.42                                                                                                                                                                                  | 282.03                                                                                                                                                                                  | 106.18                                                                                                                                                                                  | 139.92                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|                                                                                                                                                                                         | Total                                                                                                                                                                                   | 35718.16                                                                                                                                                                                | 36000.59                                                                                                                                                                                | 42151.06                                                                                                                                                                                | 39263.1                                                                                                                                                                                 | 29440.39                                                                                                                                                                                |

| Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               | Annexure-III                                                                               |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) | Detail of the funds spent on Compensatory Afforestation during last five years (₹in Crore) |
| S. No.                                                                                     |                                                                                            | 2019-20                                                                                    | 2020-21                                                                                    | 2021-22                                                                                    | 2022-23                                                                                    | 2023-24                                                                                    |
| 1                                                                                          | Funds Spent on Compensatory Afforestation                                                  | 3389.1                                                                                     | 4909.87                                                                                    | 5896.31                                                                                    | 6149.85                                                                                    | 5205.12                                                                                    |