Lok Sabha Question No. 36 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Rehabilitation of the Villages in Maharashtra
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 36

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## Rehabilitation of the Villages in Maharashtra

## 36. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  proposals  from  the  State  Government  of Maharashtra for rehabilitation of the villages to convert forest lands;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof and the steps taken/ being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has received proposals for widening the forest roads in Satara district of Maharashtra;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, and the steps taken/ being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) the  current  status  of  the  rehabilitation  of  villages  in  Koyna  Wildlife  Sanctuary  and Chandoli  National  Park  in  Satara,  Sangli, Kolhapur  and  Ratnagiri  districts of Maharashtra along with the funds sanctioned for this purpose; and
- (f) whether all villages have been rehabilitated and if so, the details thereof, district-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (b) The Central Government gets proposals from various States/UTs for conversion of forest villages into revenue villages and voluntary village relocation under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 from time to time.

The Government of India vide letter F. No. 8-34/2017-FC dated 20th May 2019 has issued Guidelines for relocation of villages in accordance with the directions of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  order  dated  28th  January,  2019,  regarding relocation/rehabilitation of the villages from the core/critical Tiger reserves and critical habitats of the Protected Areas (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) to the periphery of Reserved Forest/Sanctuaries/National Parks subject to certain conditions. The proposals are dealt as per rules as and when required.

As per the information available the details of the proposals involving relocation of villages from Protected Areas (PAs) which have been accorded ' in-principle ' approval  by  the  Central  Government  under  Section  2  (ii)  of  the  Forest (Conservation)  Act,  1980  in  case  of  Maharashtra  as  on  date  is  enclosed  at Annexure .

- (c) & (d) No proposal has been received by the Central Government for widening the forest roads in Satara district of Maharashtra.
- (e) & (f) In case any Project Affected Person (PAP) is required to be relocated from the forest area proposed to be diverted under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the same is done by the State Government as per the Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R)  plan  prepared by the concerned State  Government. Further, the information  regarding  such  displaced  villages  and  fund  sanctioned  is  not maintained at the Ministry level.

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## Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a & b) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 36 due for reply on 04.12.2023 by Shri Shriniwas Patil regarding 'Rehabilitation of the villages in Maharashtra'

| List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra   | List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra   | List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra                                         | List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra   | List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra   | List of the proposals accorded ' in-principle' approval by the Central Government for Forest Village Conversion and Rehabilitation in respect of the Maharashtra   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl No.                                                                                                                                                             | File No.                                                                                                                                                           | Subject                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Category                                                                                                                                                           | Area (in ha.)                                                                                                                                                      | Date of Stage-I approvals                                                                                                                                          |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                  | 8-81/2013-FC                                                                                                                                                       | Distribution for agriculture purpose to PAP's from 7 villages from Chandoli Wildlife Sanctuary in dis. Kolhapur                                                                                          | Forest Village Conversion                                                                                                                                          | 240.62                                                                                                                                                             | 26/11/2019                                                                                                                                                         |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                  | 8-31/2019-FC                                                                                                                                                       | Rehabilitation of Rantalodhi Village                                                                                                                                                                     | Rehabilitation                                                                                                                                                     | 374.75                                                                                                                                                             | 02/06/2022                                                                                                                                                         |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                  | 8-07/2022-FC                                                                                                                                                       | Rehabilitation of Village Vele from Koyana Wildlife Sanctuary i.e. core area of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.                                                                                                  | Rehabilitation                                                                                                                                                     | 112.25                                                                                                                                                             | 06/03/2023                                                                                                                                                         |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                  | 8-11/2022-FC                                                                                                                                                       | Proposal for Diversion of Forest land of Village - Bahule, Tal. Patan, Kharade, Helgaon, Hanbarwadi, Gosavewadi, Tal. Karad, Dist. Satara for rehabilitation of Male village from Chandoli National Park | Rehabilitation                                                                                                                                                     | 227.9                                                                                                                                                              | 06/03/2023                                                                                                                                                         |