Question : Violation of Indian Forest Act

(a) the area under forest cover and the details of increase/decrease in the forest area during each of the last three years, State-wise;
(b) the area of forest diverted for industries, residential areas, roads, railways and other purposes during the said period;
(c) the forest area which is termed as reserved forest, protected forest and village forest, State-wise;
(d) the amount of duty that has been levied on the timber and other forest produce; and
(e) the cases of violation of India Forest Act, 1927 reported and the number of prosecutions out of them for such violations?

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)


(a) As per India State of Forest Report-2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kilometers which is 21.23% of the total geographical area of the country. There is a net increase of 5871 square kilometers in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report-2011. The detailed list showing increase/decrease in forest cover State/UTs wise is given in Annexure-I.

(b) During last three years and current year, the Central Government has accorded approvals over 1, 28,591 ha of forest land in 4,725 cases for public and private sector projects. Use of forest areas for such activities are approved by the Central Government under the Forest (conservation) Act, 1980 with adequate environmental safeguards and afforestation measures in lieu of forest land proposed to be utilized for developmental activities.

(c) India State of Forest Report published by Forest Survey of India gives detailed information about forest area classified into Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Unclassed Forest. State/UTs wise details as per India State of Forest Report -2013 are given in Annexure-II.

(d) The duty on timber and other forest produce is levied by State/UTs Governments as per prevalent rules and regulations. This information is not compiled and maintained by Ministry.


(e) Protection and Management of Forests is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State/UT Government. The action against forest offences is taken as per the provisions of various acts such as Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and various state specific rules & regulations thereof by respective State/UT Government. This information pertaining to violation of Indian Forest Act, 1927 is not compiled at the level of Ministry.

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