(a) Whether the Government have received any proposal from different States for regularisation of encroachments of forest land by tribals;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the approval has been accorded to the said proposals;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the time by which these are likely to be approved?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T. R. BAALU)
(a) to (f) The details of the proposals received from the various State Governments/ Union Territories for regularization of encroachment on forest lands by tribals and the status of each of these proposals are at annexure. The Supreme Court has restrained the Central Government from regularization of any encroachment on forest lands.
Annexure
ANNEXURE IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 318 REGARDING “REGULARIZATION OF ENCROACHED FOREST LAND†FOR REPLY ON 05-08-2002.
Sl.No Name of State/UT Area(ha.) Status
1. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 1,367 Approved.
2. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 89 Rejected for want of information.
3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 735 Supreme Court has prohibited the regularization of encroachment on forest lands vide their verdict dated: 07-05-2002.
4. Arunachal Pradesh 10,545 Rejected for want of information.
5. Arunachal Pradesh 13,419.29 Approved in principle. 6. Gujarat 10,900 Approved.
7 Gujarat 39,750.59 Approved for 21082.33 ha.
8. Karnataka 46.80 Rejected as these were post 1980 encroachments, which is violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
9. Karnataka 732.24 Rejected. 10. Karnataka 17007.2 Approved for diversion of 14,848.83 ha. 11. Kerala 28,588.159 Approved. 12. Madhya Pradesh 1.03 lakh Approved. 13. Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh 1,82,889.7 a. Encroachments upto 31.12.76 - 64967 ha. Approved. b. Encroachments between 7.3.79 to 25.10.1980-11954 ha. Rejected. c. Encroachments during 1.1.77 to 6.3.79 - Approved in-principle subject to submission of revised proposal.
14. Maharashtra 10,185.32 Proposal incomplete. Additional information has been sought from the State.
15. Maharashtra 28,886.410 Withdrawn.
16. Maharashtra 335.65 Proposal incomplete. The State Government has been requested to submit consolidated proposal for the whole State.
17. Orissa 4657.1759 a) Proposal for 1 (one) district approved on 22-11-2001. b) Proposals for 8 district have also been processed, but order for approval have been with held in view of Supreme Court’s order dated 23.11.01. Other proposals are pending for want of additional information from the State Government.
18. Rajasthan 3171.42 Rejected for want of information.
19. Maharashtra 952.43 Proposal returned to the State Government. The State Government has been requested to submit consolidated proposal for the whole State.