Government Approves Diversion of 95,725 Hectares of Forest Land for Non-Forestry Purposes

New Delhi – The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has approved the diversion of 95,724.99 hectares of forest land for various non-forestry purposes between April 2019 and March 2024, according to a statement made in Parliament. The approval came under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980, which governs such land-use changes.

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, confirmed the development in a written response to the Rajya Sabha. The diversion of these lands is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to meet infrastructure and development needs.

In addition to the land diversion, the ministry has authorized afforestation activities to compensate for the environmental impact. Singh stated that approximately 2.5 lakh hectares of land have been approved for compensatory afforestation between 2019 and 2024 under the provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.

Singh also addressed concerns over the delay in the release of the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The report, which provides an evaluation of India’s forest cover, was delayed due to the inclusion of 751 districts, an increase from the previous 638 districts in earlier reports.

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been conducting biannual forest cover assessments since 1987, with the findings used to track the country’s forest health. The report covers sites with tree canopy densities greater than 10%, including areas with palm trees, bamboo, and orchards, irrespective of ownership or legal status.

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