Question : FOREST AND REVENUE LANDS

(a) whether a large number of encroachment cases are prevailing on the forest and revenue lands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands;

(b) whether Andaman and Nicobar Islands has made any special survey to identify the encroachments in different categories such as pre 1961, pre 1978 and as on date with proper lands mapping separately for forest land and revenue land;

(c) if so, the details of area under encroachment, category-wise;

(d) whether the Government propose to regularise these lands; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this direction?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (CH. VIDYASAGAR RAO)

(a)to(c): No survey to identify pre-1961 encroachments on forest land and pre-1961 and pre-1978 encroachments on revenue land was done. However, a survey to identify pre-1978 encroachments on forest lands is in progress.

A total of 1367 cases of pre-1978 encroachments covering and area of 2339.74 Hectares of forest land were identified. 2073 cases of post-1978 encroachments on forest land covering an area of 2251.462 Hectares were also identified out of which 145 encroachments covering an area of 145.462 Hectares have been removed.

Although no survey to identify pre-1978 encroachments on revenue land was done, a scheme was formulated in 1987 under which applications for regularisation of pre-1978 encroachments were invited. Out of 15,966 applications received, licences have been issued in 7212 cases covering an area of 1941.25 Hectares. 2400 post-1978 encroachments on revenue land covering an area of 2934 Hectares have so far been identified which are at various stages of eviction.

(d)&(e): The Government have decided to regularise only the pre-1978 encroachments. 645 cases of pre-1978 encroachments on forest land and 7212 cases of encroachments on revenue land have been regularised so far.