(a) whether it is a fact that forest departments of various States are unable to monitor and maintain the forests due to lack of roads in and around the forests;
(b) if so, whether there is any proposal to amend the Forest Act for provision of better facilities for monitoring and maintenance of the forests; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the Government is likely to bring in the amendment in the Forest Act?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)No sir. It is not a fact that forest departments of various States are unable to monitor and maintain the forest due to lack of roads in and around the forests.
(b)& (c)There is no proposal to amend the Indian Forest Act for provision of better facilities for monitor and maintenance of forests. The construction of roads in forest land exclusively for maintenance or protection of ‘forests’ does not require prior approval of Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Moreover, to facilitate upgradation of Kutcha roads constructed prior to 1980 in forest areas to Pucca roads, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines vide letter dated 4th July, 2014.
***