(a) whether many housing projects have come up on private forest land;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the guidelines issued by the Government for regularization of such societies on private forest land;
(c) whether the construction of homes and buildings on private forest land in Mumbai-Thane rural area has been approved by the Government; and
(d) if so, the details and the terms and conditions thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (d) The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had received representations from the various individuals/organizations of the State of Maharashtra for construction of housing projects in the private forest land. The Ministry, taking cognizance of the fact that matter related to de-notification of certain areas acquired under the Maharashtra Private Forest (Acquisition) Act, 1975 is sub-judice, vide its letter dated 24.05.2010, directed the State Government of Maharashtra not to forward such proposals seeking prior approval of the to the Central Government under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Central Government has not issued any specific guidelines for regularization of societies on private forest land.