Lok Sabha Question No. 2774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Protection of Himalayan Region
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MAJ. GEN. (RETD) BHUWAN CHANDRA KHANDURI AVSM

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2774

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## Protection of Himalayan Region

## 2774.  MAJ GEN B C KHANDURI  AVSM (Retd):

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

- (a) the details of deforestation reported in the Himalayas and the extent to which it has affected the ecological balance of North India so far;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to control and minimise the deforestation in the Himalayas and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether there is any policy to compensate the densely forested States, for maintaining the forests, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to protect the environment in the Himalayan region?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun is carrying out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report. The latest report in the series is India State of Forest Report, 2015. As per this report, the total  forest  cover  of  the  five  Himalayan  states  of  the  country  namely  Jammu  and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh is 1,32,529 square kilometers. There is a net increase of 121 square kilometers of forest cover in these  states  as  compared  with  the  India  State  of  Forest  Report-2013.  No  specific information  has  come  to  the  notice  of  this  Ministry  regarding  the  extent  to  which deforestation has affected ecological balance of North India.

Protection and Management of Forests is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State and Union Territory Governments. The Central Government and State Governments are taking the following measures to check deforestation in Himalayas.

(i)  Administrative  measures:  Patrolling  of  forest  area,  Network  of  check  posts  and mechanism of transit Permits to control illegal transport of forest produce, Control and regulation of saw mills etc.

(ii) Legal measures: Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest Conservation  Act,  1980  and  Environment  Protection  Act,  1986  and  the  rules, guidelines thereof.

(iii) Management measures: Working of forests according to approved Working Plans with involvement of local people in protection and management.

(iv)Financial measures: Financial assistance to the States and Union Territories under Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Externally aided Projects.

(v) A network of protected areas has been established. (National Parks, Sanctuaries, Project tiger areas, Project Elephants areas, biosphere reserves etc.)

- (c) The Fourteenth Finance Commission in its recommendations has i nter alia , recognized that  a  large  forest  cover  provides  huge  ecological  benefits  but  there  is  also  an opportunity cost in terms of area not available for other economic activities and this also  serves  as  an  important  indicator  of  fiscal  disability.    The  Commission  has assigned  a  weight  of  7.5%  for  Forest  Cover  in  the  distribution  formula  of Inter  se determination  of  the  shares  of  taxes  to  the  states.  The  states,  in  totality,  have  been provided more funds as a result of Fifteenth Finance Commission award and it will enable them to allocate more funds to the forestry sector.
- (d) Besides,  various  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes,  the  Ministry  has  launched  the National Mission on Himalayan studies which aims to address key issues relating to conservation  and  sustainable  management  of  natural  resources  in  Indian  Himalayan Region.

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