(a) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested the Union Government to grant permission for growing coffee in the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the decision taken by the Union Government in this regard?
(a) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested the Union Government to grant permission for growing coffee in the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the decision taken by the Union Government in this regard?
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R.BAALU)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir. A proposal was submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh seeking
approval of the Central Government under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for raising of coffee
cultivation in 80,000 hectare of forest land in districts Narsipatnam, Paderu and Visakhapatnam.
(c) The Central Government has intimated the Andhra Pradesh Government that the proposal
cannot be accepted because diversion of such a large extent of forest land for a non-forestry
activity like coffee plantation would be against the interest of conservation of forests and
its bio-diversity.