Lok Sabha Question No. 299 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 299

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation

- *299. DR. ANGOMCHA BIMOL AKOIJAM :

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

- (a) the details of total areas of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest in the State of Manipur, district-wise;
- (b) the total area covered by poppy plantation/cultivation in the said State, district-wise;
- (c) the total area of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest in the said State affected by poppy cultivation/plantation; and
- (d) the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  counter  the  menace  of  poppy cultivation/plantation in forest areas in Manipur?

## ANSWER

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

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

***

Statement refer to in reply to part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 299 due for reply on 16.12.2024 regarding 'Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation' by Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam:

- (a) As reported  by  the  State  Government  of  Manipur,  the  area  under  reserved  forest, protected forest,  unclassified forest &  proposed reserved  forest  and  protected area network (wildlife areas) falling in various forest Divisions in the State of Manipur is given in Annexure-I .
- (b) As reported by the State Government of Manipur, the district-wise total area under poppy cultivation detected during the year 2023-24 is given in Annexure-II .
- (c) As  per  report  received  from  the  State  Government  of  Manipur,  the  total  area  of reserved forest, protected forest, unclassified forest & proposed reserved forest and protected area network (wildlife areas) affected by poppy cultivation  in the State of Manipur during the year 2023-24 is given in Annexure-III.
- (d) The  Protection  and  management  of  forests  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the concerned State Government/UT Administration. To prevent the illegal activities in forest area legal provisions are there in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Local Forest Acts/Rules.  Further, in order to counter the  menace  of  poppy  cultivation/plantation  in  forest  areas  in  Manipur,  various measures are being taken by the Government of Manipur which include destroying of 77.44 square kilometre poppy cultivation by the combined team of Police, Forests, Narcotics  and  Affairs  of  Border  (NAB),  Manipur  and  Paramilitary  Forces  and registration of 2,351 number of cases by the Manipur Police during the year 2017 to 2023. Further, arrest of 2,943 persons under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,  1985 has  been  reported by  the State  Government  of Manipur for various  drug related  cases  including  poppy.  Forest  Department  Manipur  has registered 43 FIRs against the poppy cultivators.  An area of 142 hectares under poppy cultivation has also been rehabilitated by taking up afforestation.

Awareness cum sensitization programmes are also being conducted to educate people on adverse effects of poppy cultivation on environment, socio-economic condition of the people and legal implications.

****

Annexure I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 299 due for answer on 16.12.2024 regarding 'Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation'

Details  of  total  areas  of  reserved  forest,  protected  forest,  unclassified  forests  & proposed reserved forest and protected area network in the state of Manipur- Forest Division wise

(Area in sq km)

| S. No.   | Name of Forest Division   | Reserved Forest   | Protecte d Forest   | Protected Area Network   | Sub-Total   |   Unclassed Forest& Proposed Reserved Forest | Grand Total   |
|----------|---------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|-------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------|
| 1        | 2                         | 3                 | 4                   | 5                        | 6 = (3+4+5) |                                          7   | 8 = (6+7)     |
| 1        | Bishnupur                 | 3.05              | 0.13                | 41.44                    | 44.62       |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 2        | Central                   | 218.66            | -                   | -                        | 218.66      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 3        | Pherzawl                  | 90.00             | -                   | -                        | 90.00       |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 4        | Churachandpur             | 188.73            | 823.64              | 209.22                   | 1221.59     |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 5        | Jiribam                   | 117.12            | -                   | 0.00                     | 117.12      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 6        | Senapati                  | 7.77              | 451.28              | 94.16                    | 553.21      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 7        | Kangpokpi                 | 99.84             | 491.26              | -                        | 591.10      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 8        | Chandel                   | 141.86            | 28.47               | -                        | 170.33      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 10       | Noney                     | 95.27             | 1431.62             | -                        | 1526.89     |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 11       | Tamenglong                | -                 | -                   | 349.53                   | 349.53      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 12       | Thoubal                   | 20.24             | 27.73               | -                        | 47.97       |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 13       | Ukhrul                    | 0.00              | -                   | 105.67                   | 105.67      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 14       | Tengnoupal                | 1.27              | -                   | 184.80                   | 186.07      |                                      12145.4 |               |
| 15       | Kamjong                   | -                 | 46.18               | 3.70                     | 49.88       |                                      12145.4 |               |
|          | Total                     | 983.81            | 3300.31             | 988.52                   | 5272.64     |                                      12145.4 | 17418.00      |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 299 due for answer on 16.12.2024 regarding 'Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation'

District-wise total area covered under poppy plantation/cultivation in the State of Manipur during the year 2023-24

| S.No.   | Name of District   | Area (in sq km)   |
|---------|--------------------|-------------------|
| 1       | Chandel            | 0.91              |
| 2       | Churachandpur      | 6.02              |
| 3       | Kamjong            | 4.21              |
| 4       | Kangpokpi          | 17.49             |
| 5       | Noney              | 0.47              |
| 6       | Senapati           | 9.44              |
| 7       | Tamenglong         | 0.17              |
| 8       | Tengnoupal         | 0.50              |
| 9       | Ukhrul             | 6.47              |
| 10      | Imphal East        | -                 |
| 11      | Imphal West        | -                 |
| 12      | Bishhnupur         | -                 |
| 13      | Thoubal            | -                 |
| 14      | Pherzawl           | -                 |
| 15      | Jiribam            | -                 |
| 16      | Kakching           | -                 |
|         | Total              | 45.68             |

Source: Manipur State Remote Sensing Application Centre (MARSAC), Manipur

Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 299 due for answer on 16.12.2024 regarding 'Forest Areas affected by Poppy Cultivation'

Reserved Forest, proposed Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, Protected Areas and Unclassed Forest affected by poppy cultivation/plantation during the year 2023-24

| SI.No.   | Nameof Forest             |   Areaaffectedbypoppycultivation (in sq km) |
|----------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Reserved Forest           |                                        3.47 |
| 2        | Proposed Reserved Forest  |                                        2.51 |
| 3        | Protected Forest          |                                       19.24 |
| 4        | Protected Area (Wildlife) |                                        0.06 |
| 5        | Unclassed Forest          |                                       20.4  |
|          | Total                     |                                       45.68 |

Source: Manipur State Remote Sensing Application Centre (MARSAC), Manipur