Lok Sabha Question No. 224 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Declining Forest Cover in Assam
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO: 224

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## Declining Forest Cover in Assam

## 224*.  SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  National  Green  Tribunal's  (NGT)  recent directive  seeking a response from the Centre regarding the declining forest cover in the State of Assam;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to address deforestation and forest degradation in the said   State during the last five years;
- (c) the details of the measures being implemented to ensure compliance with environmental protection laws in Assam, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  assessments  recently  on  the  impact  of deforestation in the said State and if so, the details of key findings; and
- (e) the  specific  actions  being  taken  to  restore  lost  forest  cover  and  prevent  further environmental damage in the State of Assam?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to ( e) The statement is laid on the table of the House.

***

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  to  (e)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question  No.224 due for  reply on 17.03.2025 regarding 'Declining Forest Cover in Assam' by Shri Gaurav Gogoi

- (a) The National  Green Tribunal's  (NGT)  has  impleaded the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Original Application (O.A.) No. 20/2025, related to state of Assam.
- (b)to(e) The  protection  and  management  of  forest  and  tree  resources  is  primarily  the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are  legal  frameworks  for  the  protection  and  management  of  forest  and  tree resources  of  the  country,  which  include,  the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927;  Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; and the State Forest Acts and Rules.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues advisories to State Governments/UT  Administrations  to  protect  forests  and  wildlife,  as  per  the provisions of the law.  Further, in order to protect forests, various measures are taken by the State Forest Departments, which include survey and demarcation of forest areas, fixing of pillars along forest boundary and regular patrolling by field staff  to  guard  against  illicit  felling  of  tress.    It  is  a  result  of  the  comprehensive action taken regarding protection and conservation of forests as well as afforestation efforts that India's forest cover has increased from 6,98,712.36 square kilometer to 7,15,342.61 square kilometer and the tree cover from 91,267 square kilometer to 1,12,014.34 square kilometer during last decade between ISFR (India State of Forest Report) 2013 to ISFR 2023.

In addition, the Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States /UTs for  protection,  conservation  and  management  of  forests  in  the  country  through various  centrally  sponsored  schemes.  For  afforestation,  the  Government  has provided funds under various schemes and programmes, which include National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, Nagar Van Yojana (NVY).  These funds support the efforts of the States and UTs for ecological restoration through afforestation in and outside forest areas, forest landscape restoration, habitat improvement, soil and water conservation measures, and protection etc.

The  State  Government  of  Assam  has  reported  that  various  steps  for  ecological restoration, prevention of environmental damages  and  addressing  the forest degradation  have  been  taken  through  protection,  conservation,  and  restoration  of forests in last five years. The details are as under:

- (i) Under Externally Aided Project, namely, Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) Phase-II, plantation over 12,032 Ha has been raised since 2019-2020.
- (ii) In addition to this, under the CAMPA scheme, plantation over 10,759.145 Ha has been completed since 2020-2021.
- (iii) More than 10,000 Ha of forest area in Reserve Forests and Wild-life Sanctuary has been made encroachment free.
- (iv) Enhanced protection measures by raising a new battalion of Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and recruitment of approximately 2000 no. of forest frontline staffs in the year 2023 has been taken.
- (v) In the mega plantation drive called Amrit Brikshya Andolan, a total of 4.31 crore seedlings were planted outside the forest areas during 2023 and 2024.

The Van (Snarakshan Evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam, 1980 restricts dereservation of forests or non-forestry use of any forestland for any purpose, other than  reafforestation.  Hence,  deforestation  in  forest  area  is  not  a  permissible activity.

In addition, while regulating the diversion of forest land for various developmental purposes  under  the  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam,  1980;  a balance  between  conservation  and  development  is  ensured  with  appropriate mitigation  measures  which  includes  the  Compensatory  Afforestation  (CA), payment of Net Present Value (NPV), Soil and Moisture Conservation Works, and the site specific conservation plan.

The State Government of Assam has also informed that Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) around  all  Protected  Areas  of  Assam  are  maintained  strictly  according  to  the guidelines  issued  by  the  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest and Climate  Change, Government of India under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the rules made  thereunder.  Eco-Sensitive  Zone  for  eight  Protected  Areas  have  been notified.

***