(a) whether a Committee set up by the Government has suggested new parameters
to pristine forest areas in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has received objections from certain quarters for
relaxation of forest norms;and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (d) The Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to consider the environmental
and developmental issues relating to coal mining and other development projects in
its fifth meeting held on 20th September, 2011 inter alia suggested that identified
pristine forest areas where any mining activity would lead to irreversible damage to
the forests should be barred from any kind of non-forest activity. The GoM further
recommended that all such forests which can never be regenerated to the desired quality
should be protected and suggested that a committee comprising of experts in the field
can be constituted to identify such forests. Accordingly, Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MoEF) constituted a Committee under Chairmanship of the Secretray, Ministry
of Environment and Forests to formulate parameters for identification of such areas.
The Committee recommended that identification of such areas be based on six parameters
namely; forest cover, forest type, biological richness, landscape integrity, wildlife
value and the hydrological value. A copy of the report of the said Committee has been
placed on website of the MoEF for submission of comments by the stakeholders. Comments
from the concerned Ministries/ Departments in the Central Government on the report of
the said Committee have also been sought by the MoEF. The MoEF is receiving comments
on the report of the said Committee.No new parameters have however, been suggested by
the said Committee for identification of pristine forest areas. No relaxation of forest
clearance norms have also been suggested by the said Committee.