(a) Whether the Government is aware that the environment is getting polluted day by day in the country;
(b) if so, whether the Government is also aware that illicit felling of trees in many parts of the country is on full swing which has not only endangered the pollution for animals but mankind also;
(c) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any preventive measure in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI A.RAJA)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 DUE FOR REPLY ON 12-7-2004.
(a) In general, environmental quality in terms of air, water and noise is getting affected at urban centres or where there are large industrial activities. However, monitoring results indicate that the ambient air quality in many cities and towns are below the National Standards. In few cities/towns level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) is exceeding the standards. Water quality is affected in rivers where there is direct discharge of domestic sewage and industrial waste.
(b) No Sir. Though a few incidents of illicit felling of trees do take place, over all there is an increasing trend in the forest cover of the country in recent years as reported in the State of Forest Report published by Forest Survey of India on a two year cycle.
(c) & (d) Government has taken number of steps to protect and conserve the existing forest/tree cover as indicated below:
i. Financial assistance is provided under various centrally sponsored forestry and wildlife schemes for the protection and conservation of forest and wildlife.
ii. Creation of network of protected area i.e. Wildlife National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves.
iii. Involvement of local communities in protection, conservation and management of forests through the process of Joint Forest Management.
iv. Management of forest areas through the system of working plans which are approved by Central Government.
v. Afforestation of degraded land under National Afforestation Programme through the system of Forest Development Agencies and Joint Forest Management Committees.
vi. Harvesting of trees from Government Forest Land only through the agency of State Forest Departments/Forest Development corporations.
vii. Action against offenders of illicit felling taken by the State Governments.