(a) whether the Government have conducted any satellite imagery of the forest cover in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether forest cover is fast declining in the Eastern Ghats; and
(d) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to enhance forest cover in these areas?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI BABU LAL MARANDI)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. According to latest State of Forest Report, 1997 published by Forest Survey of India on the basis of assessment of the forest cover with the use of satellite data of the period October, 1989 to October, 1993, there has been loss of 3018 sq.km in the combined districts of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh.
(c) No separate assessment has been made about loss of forest cover in the Eastern Ghats, however, in the States comprising Eastern Ghats, following are the details of loss/gain of forest cover as per the latest State of Forest Report, 1997 compared to State of Forest Report, 1995:
State Loss/gain of forest cover ( in sq.km)(d) To enhance the forest cover in the states comprising Eastern Ghats projects have been sanctioned during the Ninth Plan for Rs 6245.04 lakhs for afforestation on 1.15 lakh hectares under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes of this Ministry. Externally aided projects are also being implemented for development and preservation of forests in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
1. Andhra Pradesh -3822 2. Orissa -70 3. Tamil Nadu +19