(a) whether the Government takes action only on receiving information regarding illegal cutting of trees and the Government suo-moto does not check such cases;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government in this regard;
(c) whether people avoid reporting illegal cutting of trees due to fear of mafia and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard along with the success achieved?
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) to (d) The statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFFERED IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *159 DUE FOR 27.07.2018 REGARDING ILLEGAL CUTTING OF TREES ASKED BY SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA
(a) & (b) Protection and management of forests and trees is primarily the responsibility of concerned State/UT Governments. State/Union Territory Governments take appropriate action regarding illegal cutting of trees as per the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, various acts of State/UT Governments and the rules and regulations made there under. However, as per the section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, forest land cannot be diverted to non-forest use without the approval of the Central Government.
In case violation of the provision of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is brought to the notice of the Central Government, the Ministry takes action as deemed fit under the provision of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the rules and regulations made there under. The Ministry also takes suo-moto action if any case of violation of the provision of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 comes to its notice.
(c)& (d) The Ministry has not received any information in this regard.
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