(a) whether the Government is aware of large scale destruction of forests in the country during the Tenth Plan;
(b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise and State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to save the valuable forest resources from destruction ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a),(b)and (c) : A statement is laid on the table of the House
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a), (b) and (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.167 due for reply on 13.12.2004 regarding Destruction of Forests
(a)and (b) No, Sir. There has been no large scale destruction of forests in the country during Tenth Plan period. However, incidents of illicit felling of trees have been detected from time to time in different parts of the country. The Statewise number of cases, as reported by the State Governments during last three years are at Annexure-I
(c) The measures undertaken by the Government are:-
(i) Legal measures like Indian Forest Act,1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972, Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Environment Protection Act,1986 and the rules, guidelines thereof.
(ii) Management measures like working of forests according to approved Working Plans, Forest Development Agencies and Joint Forest Management.
(iii) Financial measures like providing assistance to the States / Union Territories under centrally sponsored schemes and externally aided projects.
Under the Centrally Sponsored scheme called `Integrated Forest Protection Scheme`, in Operation since 2002-2003, funds are provided to states and Union territories primarily for strengthening of Infrastructure for protection of forests from illicit fellings, fires, encroachments etc.
(iv) A network of protected areas has been established.
S.No. State Year No. of cases
1. Assam 2001-02 578 2002-03 690 2003-04 447
2. Arunachal Pr. 2001-02 12 2002-03 29 2003-04 35
3. Bihar 2001-02 603 2002-03 343 2003-04 78
4. Chhatisgarh 2002-03 21064 2003-04 18196
5. Gujarat 2001-02 3761 2002-03 4361 2003-04 4432
6. Goa 2001 1422 2002 1515
7. Himachal Pr. 2001-02 2850 2002-03 2513 2003-04 409 (upto 31-5-04)
8. J&K 2001-02 7094 2002-03 4490 2003-04 3110
9. Jharkhand 2001-02 924 2002-03 1056 2003-04 1339
10. Karnataka 2001-02 11709 2002-03 11091 2003-04 10061
11. Andhra Pradesh 2001-02 25017 2002-03 33653 2003-04 11839
12. Kerala 2001-02 1478 2002-03 1386
13. Maharashtra 2001-02 54977 2002-03 41888 2003-04 32940
14. Madhya Pradesh 2001-02 62366 2002-03 70132 2003-04 44333
15. Mizoram 2001-02 104 2002-03 - 2003-04 -
16. Nagaland 2001-02 1 2002-03 2 2003-04 2
17. Punjab 2001-02 3819 2002-03 4650
18. Rajasthan 2001-02 5829
19. Tamil Nadu 2001-02 9040 2002-03 9650 2003-04 9761
20. Tripura 2001-02 860 2002-03 4841 2003-04 -
21. Uttar Pradesh 2001-02 4897 2002-03 5101 2003-04 4279
22. Uttranchal 2001-02 2364 2002-03 2229 2003-04 1698
23. West Bengal 2001-02 14829 2002-03 12969 2003-04 11315
24. Sikkim 2001-02 48 2002-03 28 2003-04 61