Lok Sabha Question No. 1586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Effect of Destruction of Trees and Soil Erosion
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sunil Bose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1586

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## EFFECT OF DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND SOIL EROSION

1586. SHRI SUNIL BOSE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government has taken note of the fact that due to indiscriminate destruction of trees and soil erosion, the silting of rivers have increased and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it has seriously affected the sources of water and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the efforts made/being made by the Government to prevent large scale destruction of trees and soil erosion?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) Erosion, movement and deposition of sediment in river are natural regulating functions of a river. Rivers  tend  to  maintain  a  balance  between  the  silt  load  carried  &  silt  load  deposited,  maintaining  a  river regime.

The protection of forests and tree resources is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection of forests and tree  resources  which  include,  the  Indian  Forest  Act  1927,  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the State Forest Acts and Rules. The State  Governments/UT  Administrations  take  appropriate  actions  to  protect  forests  and  trees  under  the provisions made under these Acts/Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also supports the efforts of the State Governments/ UT Administrations for afforestation and conservation of forests through various schemes such as National Mission for Green India, Nagar Van Yojana and "Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)". Afforestation activities are also undertaken in a major way by utilizing the "Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA)".

Further,  the  Flood  management  and  anti-erosion  schemes  are  formulated  and  implemented  by concerned  State  Governments  as  per  their  priority.  Government  of  India  promotes  and  provides  technical assistance, as well as promotional financial assistance for critical areas. Union Government had implemented Flood Management Programme (FMP) during XI & XII Plans for providing central assistance to States for works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, etc. which subsequently

continued  as  a  component  of  'Flood  Management  and  Border  Areas  Programme  (FMBAP)'  for  the  period from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and has further been extended during 2021-22 to 2025-26.

For the comprehensive and holistic management of sediments in river courses and water bodies, in a holistic manner, the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, in extensive consultations with Central Government Ministries/ Departments/ State Governments/ UTs have prepared the 'National Framework for Sediment Management (NFSM)". Its emphasis is on reducing silt generation rather than silt removal and promote technological innovations & best practices. The framework lays  emphasis  on  sediment  management  through  integrated  river  basin  management  plan  giving  due consideration to environment and ecology.

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