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During a session of the Lok Sabha, the government highlighted the stringent guidelines under which proposals for the diversion of forest land are considered for various infrastructure projects. These projects include the construction of National Highways, State Highways, and airport runways.
The focus remains on striking a balance between development and environmental conservation, with careful evaluation carried out on a case-by-case basis. Under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, these proposals undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure minimal environmental impact.
While the government does not maintain specific data on the number of trees felled during such projects at the Ministry level, it affirmed that these efforts are integral to maintaining ecological balance even as development progresses. The commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection is underscored by the ongoing Compensatory Afforestation initiatives undertaken by States and Union Territories from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
State/UT wise details of Compensatory Afforestation (Area in Ha.)
| State / UT | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 0 | 0 | 36.56 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 5,645 | 5,777 | 4,439.04 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1,830.17 | 12,193.93 | 4,458.67 |
| Assam | 79.26 | 120.62 | 45.28 |
| Bihar | 1,661.506 | 0 | 1,321.09 |
| Chandigarh | 14 | 0.79 | 0.14 |
| Chhattisgarh | 3,037.289 | 1,763.154 | 490.545 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delhi | 47.54 | 23.02 | 90.48 |
| Goa | 200 | 200 | 299 |
| Gujarat | 1,547.41 | 6,458.55 | 8,909.88 |
| Haryana | 1,240.02 | 1,870.22 | 1,608.83 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 876 | 954.36 | 886 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 12,474 | 9,495 | 12,349 |
| Jharkhand | 12,079.02 | 12,412.86 | 17,600.83 |
| Karnataka | 15,780.62 | 9,895.27 | 10,543.85 |
| Kerala | 431.59 | 619.03 | 65 |
| Ladakh | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 4,493.98 | 2,765.52 | 6,365 |
| Maharashtra | 633.57 | 218.35 | 182.278 |
| Manipur | 666.94 | 0 | 0 |
| Meghalaya | 25.69 | 286.74 | 58.455 |
| Mizoram | 1,236.5 | 1,303.78 | 29.96 |
| Nagaland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Odisha | 4,007.61 | 3,948.72 | 4,665.56 |
| Punjab | 4,769.99 | 5,721.99 | 5,375 |
| Rajasthan | 12,097.85 | 18,323.52 | 10,711.79 |
| Sikkim | 106.04 | 183.98 | 94.67 |
| Tamil Nadu | 0 | 0 | 82.57 |
| Telangana | 4,178.16 | 2,490.07 | 2,052.71 |
| Tripura | 182.8 | 391.86 | 566.4 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1,070.08 | 1,011.08 | 1,538.98 |
| Uttarakhand | 2,597.28 | 2,552.05 | 2,415 |
| West Bengal | 122.42 | 282.032 | 130.325 |
| Total | 93132.34 | 101263.5 | 97412.9 |
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