(a) whether the environment friendly trees and plants are being cut down indiscriminately in the country;
(b) if so, the details of trees / plants cut down during the last three years and current year, till-date, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to check this practice with special reference to Maharashtra?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS (SHRI DILIP SINGH JU DEV)
(a) to (c) There is no specific report with the Government regarding indiscriminate cutting down of environment friendly trees and plants in the country. However, cases of illegal felling of trees are detected in notified forest areas and action is taken by the State Government concerned under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and other relevant Acts and rules for the time being in force. In order to further consolidate the forest protection efforts, the Central Government has requested the State Governments to involve the local forest dwellers and people living in nearby villages in the protection, conservation and regeneration of forests, through the guidelines on Joint Forest Management issued to the State Governments from time to time since 1990 for protecting the forests through involvement of local people. The State Governments have also been requested by the Central Government to strengthen their forest protection machinery in order to deal with organised crime like smuggling and poaching in forest areas.