(a) whether the destruction of forests is rampant in North-East region of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government would consider to depute a high level team to verify the same;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a)& (b) Destruction of forests is not rampant in North-Eastern region in the country.
However, as per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2011, there is a reduction of 548 Sq. Kms.
of forest cover in comparison to ISFR 2009 in the North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. In Assam the decrease is attributed
to illicit felling, encroachments in insurgency affected areas and shifting cultivation
practices, whereas, in other NE States except Sikkim the decrease is due to shortening of
shifting cultivation cycle and biotic pressure.
(c)to (e) There is no proposal to depute a high level team to verify reduction in forest cover in the North-Eastern States.