MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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Statement referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 91 by Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane and Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde due for reply on 22.11.2019
(a) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially and findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per the latest report i.e. ISFR- 2017, the total forest and tree cover in the country is 8,02,08,800 hectares (forest cover 7,08,27,300 hectares, tree cover 93,81,500 hectares) which is 24.39% of the geographical area of the country. There is an increase of 8,02,100 hectares (forest cover 6,77,800 hectares, tree cover 1,24,300 hectares) of total forest and tree cover compared to that of ISFR-2015.
State/UT wise details of forest and tree cover along with percentage as per ISFR-2017 is given in Annexure-I.
(b) Details of fund released by the Ministry for conservation, development and expansion of forests under National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission and Development of Wildlife Habitats during the last three years and the current year to States/UTs including Maharashtra are given in Annexure-II, III, IV respectively.
Under Compensatory Afforestation Funds (CAF), funds were released during 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and part of 2019-20 by the Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The Statement of State-wise release is at Annexure V. However, after formation of National Authority under Compensatory Afforestation (CAF) Act, 2016, a sum of Rs. 47436.18 Crore have been deposited in State funds as per the provision of the CAF Act, 2016. State-wise details of fund deposited in State fund are at Annexure VI.
(c) Ministry is implementing a Central Sector Scheme “National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change” (NAF), to assist adaptation measures in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Thirty (30) projects (including two Regional Projects) have been approved in 26 States. Projects in agriculture, water, forestry, coastal sectors etc., targeted to enhance adaptive capacity in terms of availability of improved water and food security, livelihoods, ecosystems services, are preferred for funding under the scheme.
The aim is to support concrete adaptation activities which are not covered under the on-going activities through the schemes of State and National Government. Adaptation projects that can contribute towards reducing risk and vulnerability at community and sector level are eligible for funding under the scheme. The details of expenditure incurred under the NAF during the last three financial years and the current year are given in Annexure VII.
(d) Complaints alleging irregularities in plantations of 2015, 2016 and 2017 carried out through Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority in the State of Chhattisgarh were received, which were examined by the State Government. The State Government did not find any substance in the complaints.
(e) An amount of Rs.629,00,00,000/- has been released to the State of Maharashtra during the last three years against their Annual Plans of Operation. The details are given in Annexure V.
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