Madhya Pradesh tops deforestation for development projects in 10 years

Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest deforestation in the country between 2014 and 2024, in the name of development. The state has lost 38,552 hectares of forest land for various public utility projects during the period, as revealed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav in his response to a question in Parliament. 

Yadav was responding to a question in Lok Sabha by Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha, an MP representing the Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation from Bihar. Mr. Kushwaha asked about the scientific preparedness of the Indian State of Forest Report, 2023, and if it excluded data related to the diversion of large tracts of forests for developmental activities between 1996 and 2023. He also wanted to know the details of the forest land diversion for the developmental activities in the last 10 years. He also wanted to know the Environmental Assessments thereof. 

Yadav replied that a total of 173,396 hectares of forest area has been diverted to various non-forestry purposes, which include infrastructural projects between 2014-15 and 2023-24, under the provision of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Madhya Pradesh's share of deforestation accounts for around 22 percent of the total. So Madhya Pradesh is preceded by the list by getting clearance for developmental projects. Odisha stood second with 24,459 hectares and Telangana came third with 11,442 hectares. 

According to the PARIVESH portal for forest clearances of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Madhya Pradesh got 288 forest clearances on the proposals for developmental activities. 

What does state forest reports 2023 says?

Madhya Pradesh has 85,72,400 hectares of forest land mentioned in India State of Forest Report, 2023 and it was decreased by 61,240 hectares compared to the last report. Madhya Pradesh is one of few states to show the negative trends.  

The declining forest cover in Madhya Pradesh, which has historically boasted the largest forest area in the country, raises questions about sustainable development practices and the effectiveness of environmental impact assessments.

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