Parliament Question: Construction and Expansion on Forest Land

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1588 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 Construction and Expansion on Forest Land

1588. SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has issued guidelines, prescribing norms for permitting religious structures and activities within wildlife sanctuaries and protected forest areas;

(b) if so, the key provisions of these guidelines, particularly the principle that any construction or expansion on forest land after 1980 be treated as encroachment;

(c) whether these guidelines are binding on State Governments and the status of their adoption across States;

(d) whether any proposals for diversion or regularisation of forest land for religious purposes have been approved, reconsidered or revoked during the last three years; and

(e) the safeguards proposed to ensure protection of wildlife habitats while addressing claims related to religious sites in forest areas? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) The Central Government has not issued guidelines, prescribing norms for permitting religious structures and activities within wildlife sanctuaries and protected forest areas.

(b) to (e) Does not arise. ***