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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land diverted from in 10 years; 63% for mining, irrigation and roads: Centre tells Lok Sabha
The Union environment ministry approved the diversion of 1,73,984.3 hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes between 2014-15 and 2023-24, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The mining and quarrying sector, the hydropower energy and irrigation sector, and road projects accounted for about 63 per cent of diversion, with forest land of 40,096.17 hectares, 40,138.31 hectares, and 30,605.69 hectares diverted for the three purposes respectively. The Union minister was replying to a question from Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who asked whether forest clearances for infrastructure and industrial projects had increased by over 150 per cent from 2014 to 2023, citing a Centre for Science and Environment report. The minister added in his reply that forest land was allowed for non-forestry use in unavoidable circumstances with 'adequate mitigation measures including raising of compensatory afforestation and payment of net present value'. As per the minister's reply, linear infrastructure projects such as power transmission lines accounted for diversion of 17,232.69 hectares of forest land. The ministry also approved 14,968.14 hectares of forest land for defence projects. Railway projects accounted for 7,998 hectares of forest land diversion, whereas 2,644 hectares were diverted for the thermal power sector. For the 'others' category, 9,669.85 hectares of forest land were diverted and 346.84 hectares for wind power. 'The process of approvals for diversion of forest land for various non-forestry purposes under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvarshan) Adhiniyam, 1980 is a continuous process. During the period from 2014-15 to 2023-24, the forest area measuring 173984.3 ha. has been approved to be used for various non-forestry purposes, including infrastructure and industrial projects under the provisions of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980,' the minister stated in his reply. Under the Van Adhiniyam 1980, project proponents have to obtain approval from the ministry's forest advisory committee before using or diverting forest land for non-forestry activities. An empowered committee of the ministry's regional offices scrutinises projects in categories such as linear projects consisting of pipelines, railways, roadways and power lines. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Over 1.73 lakh ha forest land diverted for infra projects from 2014 to 2024: Govt
The highest diversion of forest land during this period was for mining and quarrying activities, which were allowed to use 40,096.17 hectares. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said that 1,73,984.3 hectares of forest land were approved for various non-forestry purposes between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2024, under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, now amended and renamed as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land have been approved for diversion for non-forestry purposes across India from 2014 to 2024, with mining and hydropower projects emerging as the leading contributors, the environment ministry informed Parliament on Monday. These included a wide range of extractive activities that continue to remain one of the biggest drivers of forest clearance across mineral-rich regions, especially in central and eastern India. Hydropower and irrigation projects together accounted for the second-highest diversion, with 40,138.31 hectares of forest land approved for such purposes. These include large and small dams, canals, reservoirs and associated infrastructure. The information was provided in response to a question by Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who referred to the 2023 State of India's Environment Report by think tank Centre for Science and Environment. The report claimed that forest clearances for infrastructure and industrial projects increased by more than 150 per cent between 2014 and 2023. According to the government data, linear infrastructure projects such as road construction and power transmission lines were also among the top contributors. Forest land diverted for road development amounted to 30,605.69 hectares, while transmission lines used up 17,232.69 hectares. Defence projects involving security infrastructure and border-related development works accounted for 14,968.14 hectares of diverted forest land. The category listed as 'Others', which includes miscellaneous or unclassified uses not covered in standard categories, accounted for 9,669.85 hectares. Railway projects were sanctioned 7,998.65 hectares of forest land, making it another significant sector of diversion, particularly for expansion and electrification works. Projects involving the conversion of forest villages into revenue villages, a longstanding demand under the Forest Rights Act and other policies, used 3,250 hectares of land. Thermal power projects were approved on 2,644.02 hectares of forest land, while rehabilitation and resettlement schemes received clearance on 1,580.55 hectares. Projects related to drinking water supply, including pipeline networks and treatment plants, accounted for 1,282.21 hectares. Optical fibre cable laying, which generally involves underground or shallow surface work along road or railway alignments, led to the diversion of 437.63 hectares. Pipeline projects were approved on 543.57 hectares, while industry-related clearances, including those for industrial estates or standalone units, covered 405.82 hectares. Wind power installations accounted for 346.84 hectares, and village electrification initiatives used 551.13 hectares of forest land. Dispensaries and hospitals were allocated 113.31 hectares, and educational institutions, including schools and colleges, were constructed on 83.46 hectares of forest land. Substations took up 76.14 ha of forest land, solar power 1.57 ha, encroachments regularised under certain policies 9.63 ha, and communication posts 6.54 ha. A marginal amount of land (0.11 ha) was approved for rainwater harvesting structures, and 0.59 hectares was used for telecommunication lines. The minister said the process of forest land diversion is continuous and permitted only in 'unavoidable circumstances' with adequate mitigation measures. PTI GVS RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt claims 1.73 lakh hectares forest land diverted for infra projects from 2014 to 2024
Over the past decade, India has diverted 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes, primarily driven by mining, quarrying, hydropower, and irrigation projects. Linear infrastructure projects like road construction and power transmission lines also significantly contributed to this diversion. The government maintains that such diversions occur only under unavoidable circumstances, with necessary mitigation measures in place. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land have been approved for diversion for non-forestry purposes across India from 2014 to 2024, with mining and hydropower projects emerging as the leading contributors, the environment ministry informed Parliament on to a question in the Lok Sabha , Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said that 1,73,984.3 hectares of forest land were approved for various non-forestry purposes between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2024, under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, now amended and renamed as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, highest diversion of forest land during this period was for mining and quarrying activities, which were allowed to use 40,096.17 included a wide range of extractive activities that continue to remain one of the biggest drivers of forest clearance across mineral-rich regions, especially in central and eastern and irrigation projects together accounted for the second-highest diversion, with 40,138.31 hectares of forest land approved for such purposes. These include large and small dams, canals, reservoirs and associated to the government data, linear infrastructure projects such as road construction and power transmission lines were also among the top land diverted for road development amounted to 30,605.69 hectares, while transmission lines used up 17,232.69 information was provided in response to a question by Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who referred to the 2023 State of India's Environment Report by think tank Centre for Science and report claimed that forest clearances for infrastructure and industrial projects increased by more than 150 per cent between 2014 and projects involving security infrastructure and border-related development works accounted for 14,968.14 hectares of diverted forest category listed as "Others", which includes miscellaneous or unclassified uses not covered in standard categories, accounted for 9,669.85 hectares. Railway projects were sanctioned 7,998.65 hectares of forest land, making it another significant sector of diversion, particularly for expansion and electrification involving the conversion of forest villages into revenue villages, a longstanding demand under the Forest Rights Act and other policies, used 3,250 hectares of power projects were approved on 2,644.02 hectares of forest land, while rehabilitation and resettlement schemes received clearance on 1,580.55 related to drinking water supply, including pipeline networks and treatment plants, accounted for 1,282.21 fibre cable laying, which generally involves underground or shallow surface work along road or railway alignments, led to the diversion of 437.63 projects were approved on 543.57 hectares, while industry-related clearances, including those for industrial estates or standalone units, covered 405.82 power installations accounted for 346.84 hectares, and village electrification initiatives used 551.13 hectares of forest and hospitals were allocated 113.31 hectares, and educational institutions, including schools and colleges, were constructed on 83.46 hectares of forest took up 76.14 ha of forest land, solar power 1.57 ha, encroachments regularised under certain policies 9.63 ha, and communication posts 6.54 ha.A marginal amount of land (0.11 ha) was approved for rainwater harvesting structures, and 0.59 hectares was used for telecommunication minister said the process of forest land diversion is continuous and permitted only in "unavoidable circumstances" with adequate mitigation measures.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
40 arrested after drug tests in Bangkok bar
An arrest of a Vietnamese drug dealer at an entertainment venue in Bangkok early Friday led to the further detention of 40 other people, who also tested positive for drugs. The mass arrests were made after police tracked a Vietnamese drug dealer, identified only as Van. He was found to have been selling drugs in Bangkok's Wang Thonglang district, said Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. An arrest warrant was issued for the Vietnamese on Wednesday. Investigators monitored the suspect and followed him to the bar at 2.45am on Friday, where Mr Van was arrested with eight packets of the "happy water" drug, 12 packets of ketamine and five pills of ecstasy. In the raid, police conducted a urine drug test for other customers and staff there. Forty of them tested positive, with more drugs found in their possession. A 9mm gun was seized from one of the detainees. Their nationalities were not known. All suspects were taken into custody for further legal proceedings, Pol Lt Gen Siam said.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
40 arrested after drug test in Bangkok bar
An arrest of a Vietnamese drug dealer at an entertainment venue in Bangkok early Friday led to the further detention of 40 other people, who also tested positive for drugs. The mass arrests were made after police tracked a Vietnamese drug dealer, identified only as Van. He was found to have been selling drugs in Bangkok's Wang Thonglang district, said Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. An arrest warrant was issued for the Vietnamese on Wednesday. Investigators monitored the suspect and followed him to the bar at 2.45am on Friday, where Mr Van was arrested with eight packets of the "happy water" drug, 12 packets of ketamine and five pills of ecstasy. In the raid, police conducted a urine drug test for other customers and staff there. Forty of them tested positive, with more drugs found in their possession. A 9mm gun was seized from one of the detainees. Their nationalities were not known. All suspects were taken into custody for further legal proceedings, Pol Lt Gen Siam said.
