(a) whether in some of the States including Haryana forest land is being
diverted for non-forest use including petrol pumps and shopping malls;and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for diversion of forest land for private commercial use?
MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) & (b) Under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act,1980,forest land is diverted for non-forestry
purposes, inter-alia, for developmental activities including infrastructure development, irrigation, laying
of pipelines/cables/transmission lines etc. So far, out of 1591 approvals, 146 approvals mostly pertaining
to approach roads to the petrol pumps and shopping malls have been accorded in the State of Haryana involving
17.375 ha. of forest land.