India Continues to Lose Forest Land to Non-Forestry Projects

India Continues to Lose Forest Land to Non-Forestry Projects

  • Recently an annual report released by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
  • As per the report, the diversion of forest land for other purposes continued throughout India.
  • Between January 1 and November 6,2019, a total 11,467.83 hectares forest land was diverted in 22 states.
  • The diversion was for 932 non-forestry projects under the Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) , 1980.

Overview

  • 4,514 hectares (i.e.. more than a third of diverted land) was for 14 projects in Odisha.
  • 2.055 hectares were diverted for 11 projects in Telangana
  • 869.99 hectares diverted for 11 projects in Jharkhand.
  • The largest number of projects belonged to Haryana with 251 projects leading to diversion of 519.53 hectares.
  • Madhya Pradesh diverted 795.36 hectares for 220 projects.
  • Category wise division was also given in the report-
  • Irrigation and mining projects accounted for the diversion of largest area.
  • 4,287.50 hectares were diverted for 24 irrigation projects.
  • 3,846.09 hectares were diverted for 22 mining projects.
  • 1,487.82 hectares were diverted for 227 road construction projects.
  • The report also said that the guidelines have been issued for encouraging voluntary relocation of villages to forest fringe areas from the core areas of
    • National parks
    • Wildlife sanctuaries
    • Tiger reserves
India continues to lose forest land to non-forestry projects
StateNumber of ProjectsTotal Forest land approved for diversion (in ha)
Goa10.93
Mizoram123.69
Uttar Pradesh163.27
Chhattisgarh1207.99
Kerala20.26
Tripura21.8
West Bengal2102.33
Maharashtra2151.81
Andhra Pradesh337.82
Tamil Nadu618.45
Karnataka11162.61
Jharkhand11869.99
Telangana112055.05
Odisha144514
Rajasthan27370.34
Bihar28453.43
Himachal Pradesh52434.36
Uttarakhand64159.74
Gujarat99114.01
Punjab122411.07
Madhya Pradesh220795.36
Haryana251519.53

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021