Question : EXPLOITATION OF FORESTS

(a) whether exploitation of forests are taking place in the name of development and promotion of tourism especially in the hilly and tribal areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details of forest land diverted for such purpose so far;

(c) the steps taken or being taken by the Government to harmonise developmental activities and eco-tourism;

(d) whether the Government has received reports of illegal diversion of forest land in various States; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the stringent action taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (c) Use of forest land for non-forest activities, including those related to eco-tourism, requires prior approval of Central Government in accordance with Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The States and Union Territories therefore, need to obtain prior approval of the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. So far, the Central Government has accorded approval for diversion of 11,89,294.54 ha of forest land for varius developmental activities including eco-tourism projects.

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change issued guidelines for tourism in and around tiger reserves to inter-alia harmonise eco-tourism activities around the tiger reserves with various provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Indian Forest Act, 1927.

(d) to (e) In some of the proposals seeking prior approval of Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose execution of non-forest activities in forest land without obtaining requisite prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 or in violation of conditions stipulated in approvals accorded under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of such forest land are reported by the State Governments. Central Government while according prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to such proposals stipulate appropriate penal measures. These penal measures include – realisation from the user agency penal Net Present Value (NPV) and funds for creation of penal compensatory afforestation, initiation of proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the section 3 A and 3 B of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and/ or relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and/or the relevant sections of the Local Forest Act, as the facts of each case may demand.