whether it is a fact that forest land has been
encroached on large scale in the country;
if so, the details thereof, State/UT–wise; and
the steps being taken by Government to
remove this encroachment?
|
The
State –wise details of forest land under encroachment is given in annexure.
|
The protection of forest areas is primarily the
responsibility of the concerned State /Union Territory Governments under the
relevant provisions of various Central/State Acts, Rules and Regulations. This
Ministry provides financial assistance to the State Forest Departments under a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Intensification of Forest Management’ to strengthen
their forest protection machinery by way of infrastructure development, use of
modern technology and improved communication.
This infrastructural support provided to all State/UT Governments help
them in demarcation of forest with boundary pillar, enhances the patrolling
capabilities of frontline staff and strengthens efforts for eviction of forest
land encroachers. Other efforts being made by various State Governments for
removing encroachment includes delegation of powers of Collectors to Divisional
Forest officers (DFOs) under Public Premises and Land
Recovery Act, constitution of special eviction squads with the help of Police
and Revenue departments, and expediting the cases of forest encroachments under
trials in various Courts, etc.
Annexure
“ENCROACHMENT OF FOREST LAND IN THE COUNTRY”
|
S. No.
|
Name of
States
|
Area
Under Encroachment (in ha.)
|
As on
(Date)
|
|
1
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
2,56,000.00
|
11.03.2011
|
|
2
|
Bihar
|
Nil
|
01.12.2010
|
|
3
|
Chhattisgarh
|
1,18,494.60
|
07.03.2011
|
|
4
|
Gujarat
|
34,791.00
|
31.03.2010
|
|
5
|
Haryana
|
184.63
|
24.11.2011
|
|
6
|
H.P
|
1,832.1403
|
21.03.2011
|
|
7
|
Karnataka
|
96,014.349
|
14.03.2011
|
|
8
|
Kerala
|
42,420.5085
|
16.05.2011
|
|
9
|
M.P
|
8,077.72
|
27.08.2011
|
|
10
|
Maharashtra
|
85,388
|
31.12.2010
|
|
11
|
Orissa
|
78,505.077
|
01.01.2004
|
|
12
|
Punjab
|
7404
|
23.11.2011
|
|
13
|
Tamil Nadu
|
14,352.16
|
07.03.2011
|
|
14
|
Uttaranchal
|
9,676
|
31.03.2010
|
|
15
|
West Bengal
|
12,660.972
|
31.03.2010
|
|
16
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
58,553.07
|
04.03.2011
|
|
17
|
Assam
|
2,59,700.00
|
18.03.2011
|
|
18
|
Manipur
|
1,918.37
|
02.08.2011
|
|
19
|
Meghalaya
|
9,378.00
|
21.03.2011
|
|
20
|
Mizoram
|
12,057.90
|
01.10.2010
|
|
21
|
Nagaland
|
2,671.86
|
22.11.2010
|
|
22
|
Sikkim
|
3,300.96
|
27.05.2011
|
|
23
|
Tripura
|
47,758.14
|
16.03.2011
|
|
24
|
A & N Islands
|
3,326.63
|
10.03.2011
|
|
25
|
Chandigarh
|
14.00
|
11.03.2011
|
|
26
|
D&N Haveli
|
613.30
|
22.12.2010
|
|
27
|
Daman & Diu
|
87.83
|
28.09.2010
|
|
28
|
Lakshadweep
|
Nil
|
16.03.2011
|
|
29
|
Puducherry
|
Nil
|
|
This Information was given by the Minister of State for
Environment and Forests (I/C)Smt
Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question By Shri Kanjibhai Patel in Rajya Sabha Today.
KP