:
(a) whether the Government propose to change Forest Policy to involve the corporate, cooperative sectors as well NGO`s to reclaim forest and non-forest wastelands and to increase the green cover in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI BABULAL MARANDI)
(a) to (c) The Government has no proposal for bringing about any change in the National Forest Policy, 1988. However, the Ministry has issued a guideline to all the States on 7.6.1999 for participation of private sector through involvement of NGOs and Forests Department in afforestation / rehabilitation of the degraded forests with their own resources and without having any claim on forest land or forest produce thereupon. In regard to non-forest wastelands, the National Forest Policy envisages a massive need-based and time bound programme of afforestation and tree planting with particular emphasis on fuelwood and fodder development on all degraded and denuded lands in the country eliciting people`s support.