Lok Sabha Question No. 2568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Diversion of Forest Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2568

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## Diversion of Forest Land

## 2568. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

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

- (a) whether a number of proposals for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose in Maharashtra have been cleared by Regional Empowered Committee as well as Ministry since June, 2014;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; project-wise and area-wise;
- (c) the number of proposals pending till date; and
- (d) the time by which these proposals likely to be cleared?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) Since  June,  2014  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  and  Climate  Change  and  the Regional Empowered Committee accorded in-principle under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose to 25 proposals received from the Government of Maharashtra. A statement containing details of these proposals is annexed.
- (c) & (d) Presently 5 proposals, which are complete in all respect, seeking prior approval of Central  Government  under  the  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980  for  diversion  of forest land in Maharashtra are pending before the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In-principle approval to three proposals relating to Durgapur Deep Extension Opencast Coal Mine, Mahasavan to Kashsid Kopur Water Pipeline and Ethane Gas Pipeline with OFC from Dehaj to Nagothane is likely to be issued shortly.  Decision  on  the  remaining  two  proposals  pertaining  to  Mumbai  Trans Harbour Project in Raigad and Thane districts and construction of a Multipurpose Port in Alibagh Taluka in Raigarh district is likely to take some more time.

***

THE STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF THE LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2568  BY  DR.  KIRIT  SOMAIYA REGARDING 'DIVERSION OF FOREST LAND' DUE FOR REPLY ON 15.12.2015 Details  of  proposals  seeking  prior  approval  of  Central  Government  under  the  Forest (Conservation)  Act,  1980  for  diversion  of  forest  land  for  non-forest  purpose  in Maharashtra cleared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Regional Empowered Committee since June 2014.

|   Sl. No. | Name of proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   Area of forest land diverted (ha.) |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|         1 | Laying of 1.12 dia underground Uran Chakan & Shikrapur LPG pipeline along with 6 dia Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) in favour of Chief Manager, LPG Project, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd in Raigad District of Maharashtra. |                               9.404  |
|         2 | Jambrung Minor Irrigation Scheme in Thane District of Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                                             |                              16.391  |
|         3 | Valvande Minor Irrigation Scheme in Thane District                                                                                                                                                                             |                              30.865  |
|         4 | Construction of Minor irrigation Tank at Washi                                                                                                                                                                                 |                              12.6    |
|         5 | Construction of Morlc to Mirvel Road in Sindhudurg & Kolhapur Districts                                                                                                                                                        |                              20.429  |
|         6 | Rehabilitation and upgrading to 4 laning of NH-50 from Khed to Sinnar from Km 97/000 to l57/000 (Ahmednagar district portion) in Ahmednagar District                                                                           |                              33.9585 |
|         7 | Project for extraction and quarrying of Stone by Panchadhara Mahila Khan Majur & Industrial Co-operative Society in Kolhapur district                                                                                          |                               4.9    |
|         8 | Construction of wind power project by M/s. Suzlon Energy Ltd. in district Nashik, Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                 |                              60.63   |
|         9 | Additional forest land for canal network system of Gosikhurd right bank canal (km 51 to 99)                                                                                                                                    |                             119.058  |
|        10 | 765 KV D/C (Hexa) Raipur pooling station - Wardha Transmission Line - II (second)                                                                                                                                              |                             295.425  |
|        11 | Bhuvan Minor Irrigation Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                              24.2375 |
|        12 | Salai (Mokasa) Minor Irrigation Project                                                                                                                                                                                        |                               9      |
|        13 | Gokul Open Cast Coal Mining Project of Western Coalfields Limited                                                                                                                                                              |                              11.9    |
|        14 | Six laning of Pune-Satara Section of NH-4 (Km 725.000 to KM865.350)                                                                                                                                                            |                              13.475  |
|        15 | Plant for processing and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in Pune District.                                                                                                                                                   |                              19.9    |
|        16 | 400 KV Dehrand to Nagothane Transmission Line.                                                                                                                                                                                 |                              81.2879 |
|        17 | 400 KV Kharghar to Vikroli Transmission line.                                                                                                                                                                                  |                              57.5092 |
|        18 | 400 KV D/C Aurangabad - Boisar Transmission Line in Thane and Nasik District.                                                                                                                                                  |                             141.67   |
|        19 | 400 KV D/C Kala Kudus Transmission Line in Thane District.                                                                                                                                                                     |                             147.242  |
|        20 | Construction of road and railway access for the project                                                                                                                                                                        |                              19.5    |

| Sl. No.   | Name of proposal                                                                                                               | Area of forest land diverted (ha.)   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|           | development of fourth container terminal and marine chemical terminal at JN Port in Raigad District.                           |                                      |
| 21        | Change in alignment in sanctioned area 35.778 ha for 33KV transmission line and road cum transmission line in District Satara. | 0.4875                               |
| 22        | 400 KV Dherand to Palmbeach Transmission Line.                                                                                 | 97.1515                              |
| 23        | Project for manufacturing of Transmission Tower (Expansion) by M/s Amitasha Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.                              | 10.94                                |
| 24        | Construction of Transmission line and Road by M/s Suzlon Energy Limited                                                        | 15.95                                |
| 25        | Construction of Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli new Railway Line                                                                         | 17.60                                |