New Delhi, Aug. 6: The Union Government on Thursday informed Parliament that 1,178.58 hectares of forest land in Jammu and Kashmir were approved for diversion for non-forest purposes between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2026, under the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the approvals were granted over five years, with 262.93 hectares diverted in 2021-22, 186.51 hectares in 2022-23, 126.65 hectares in 2023-24, 292.09 hectares in 2024-25 and 310.39 hectares in 2025-26.
Read more: Satellite Images Show Dense Forest Deforestation, Amid Climate Change In Kashmir
Nationally, the Centre approved the diversion of 1,05,594.32 hectares of forest land during the same period. Mining and quarrying accounted for the largest share of diverted land at 23,976.72 hectares, followed by roads (22,284.65 hectares), hydel and irrigation projects (18,788.12 hectares), and power transmission and village electrification projects (14,006.45 hectares).
The Ministry said every proposal for diversion of forest land is examined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account its likely impact on forests, wildlife and the environment.
“Diversion is permitted only where it is unavoidable, site-specific and restricted to the minimum area required for the project,” the Ministry said in its reply.
It added that approvals are subject to mandatory mitigation measures, including compensatory afforestation, payment of Net Present Value (NPV), soil and moisture conservation works, wildlife management plans and catchment area treatment plans, wherever applicable.
The government further informed the House that 6,434.79 hectares of compensatory afforestation were undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir under CAMPA funds between 2019-20 and 2023-24, with the reported plantation survival rate ranging from 60 to 66 per cent.
Across the country, 1,78,261.52 hectares were brought under compensatory afforestation during the same period under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016.
The Ministry said afforestation and other mitigation measures are implemented by States and Union Territories through approved Annual Plans of Operation in accordance with the CAF Act, CAF Rules and the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam.
