Lok Sabha Question No. 3807 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Diversion of Forest Land for Commercial and Infrastructure Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3807

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Diversion of Forest Land for Commercial and Infrastructure Projects

## 3807.   DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:

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

- (a) the data on the extent of forest land diverted for commercial and infrastructure projects in the country during the last three financial years, State-wise particularly district-wise in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) whether the Government acknowledges that rapid deforestation has exacerbated climate risks, water scarcity and biodiversity loss in the said State; and
- (c) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  curb  illegal  deforestation  and  ensure  strict enforcement of environmental regulations?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) During the period from 2021-22 to 2023-24, the forest area measuring 59882.07 ha has been approved to be used for various non-forestry purposes including infrastructure projects under the provisions of Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The State/UT wise details of diverted forest land including that for Tamil Nadu is enclosed at Annexure . Further, the Central Government has launched an online portal namely PARIVESH for the purpose of  submitting  and  processing  proposals  for  non-forest  use  of  forestland.  The detail  for  each  proposal  on  the  portal  is  available  in  public  domain  at https://parivesh.nic.in

Various  developmental  projects  do  have  ecological  impact,  however,  the diversion of forest land is allowed with adequate mitigation measures including the raising of Compensatory Afforestation (CA) and payment of Net Present Value  (NPV).  The  additional  mitigation  measures  in  the  form  of  Soil  and Moisture Conservation works, Catchment Area Plan and Wildlife Management plan etc. are also stipulated on case-to-case basis.

The protection and management of forest and tree resources is primarily  the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forest and tree resources which include, the Indian Forest Act 1927, and the State Forest Acts and Rules. The State Governments /UT Administrations take appropriate actions to protect forests and trees as per the provisions made under these Acts/ Rules. The details in this regard are maintained by the concerned State Government/ UT Administration.

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## Annexure

Annexure referred to part (a)  to  (c)  of    the    LSUQ  No.  3807  dated  24.03.2025 regarding 'Diversion of Forest Land for Commercial and Infrastructure Projects ' asked by Shri Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

| Category : All Categories   | Category : All Categories          | During the Period : 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2024   |
|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                      | STATE / UT                         | Area Approved (in Ha.)                         |
| 1                           | Andaman and Nicobar                | 102.98                                         |
| 2                           | Andhra Pradesh                     | 614.76                                         |
| 3                           | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 4071.58                                        |
| 4                           | Assam                              | 541.84                                         |
| 5                           | Bihar                              | 623.43                                         |
| 6                           | Chandigarh                         | 0.05                                           |
| 7                           | Chhattisgarh                       | 3020.68                                        |
| 8                           | Dadar& Nagar Haveli &Daman and Diu | 40.53                                          |
| 9                           | Delhi                              | 116.92                                         |
| 10                          | Goa                                | 182.80                                         |
| 11                          | Gujarat                            | 3725.95                                        |
| 12                          | Haryana                            | 925.49                                         |
| 13                          | Himachal Pradesh                   | 1320.78                                        |
| 14                          | Jammu and Kashmir                  | 576.10                                         |
| 15                          | Jharkhand                          | 2985.78                                        |
| 16                          | Karnataka                          | 1148.29                                        |
| 17                          | Kerala                             | 154.15                                         |
| 18                          | Madhya Pradesh                     | 14157.02                                       |
| 19                          | Maharashtra                        | 2416.71                                        |
| 20                          | Manipur                            | 1516.45                                        |
| 21                          | Meghalaya                          | 27.41                                          |
| 22                          | Mizoram                            | 414.44                                         |
| 23                          | Odisha                             | 7703.46                                        |
| 24                          | Punjab                             | 1267.53                                        |
| 25                          | Rajasthan                          | 3207.01                                        |
| 26                          | Sikkim                             | 212.55                                         |
| 27                          | Tamil Nadu                         | 87.60                                          |
| 28                          | Telangana                          | 631.31                                         |
| 29                          | Tripura                            | 538.93                                         |
| 30                          | Uttar Pradesh                      | 5058.25                                        |
| 31                          | Uttarakhand                        | 2005.17                                        |
| 32                          | West Bengal                        | 486.11                                         |
| Grand Total                 |                                    | 59882.07                                       |

Source :

https://parivesh.nic.in