(a) whether only the projects initiated/undertaken by State Governments are required to provide alternative land and not Union Government`s projects, for compensatory afforestation in place of forest land utilized;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government proposes to amend the said policy; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) & (b) Compensatory afforestation (CA) is one of the conditions stipulated by the
Central Government to minimize adverse impact on the micro-ecology of the area in cases of
diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. CA is to be done over equivalent non-
forest land to be identified contiguous to or in proximity of Reserved Forest or Protected
Forest to enable the Forest Department to effectively manage the newly planted area.
For Central Government / Central Government Undertaking Projects, CA is raised on degraded
forest land twice in extent of forest area being diverted.
For the State Sector Projects, CA is allowed on equivalent non-forest land or on the strength
of a certificate of Chief Secretary regarding non-availability of equivalent non-forest land
anywhere in the State, CA is allowed to be carried out over degraded forest twice in extent
to the area being diverted.
(c) & (d) In view of the contents in para (a) & (b), there is no proposal as of now to
change the above policy.