This document summarizes the Indian government's policy regarding the conversion of forest villages into revenue villages, as addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 201, answered on July 21, 2025. The policy necessitates prior central government approval under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980 for both dereservation/diversion of forest land for conversion and for voluntary village relocation from Protected Areas. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued guidelines on December 29, 2023 (Para 12.8 and 12.9 of Chapter 12 of the Consolidated Guidelines and Clarifications) aligning with Supreme Court directives from January 28, 2019, concerning relocation/rehabilitation from core/critical tiger reserves and Protected Area cores (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries). These guidelines permit relocation to the periphery of Reserved Forests/Sanctuaries/National Parks, subject to specific conditions. Proposals from States/Union Territories are managed according to the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980 Rules and Guidelines. Details of submitted proposals are publicly available on the PARIVESH portal (www.parivesh.nic.in). It is emphasized that land management, including the determination and maintenance of forest areas and boundaries, falls under the jurisdiction of individual State/UT governments, which hold primary responsibility for maintaining records of forest villages.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
DR. FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding conversion of forest villages.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the answer.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980: Law requiring prior approval from the Central Government for dereservation/diversion of forest land.
Supreme Court: The highest judicial body in India, which issued directions regarding relocation/rehabilitation of villages from core tiger reserves and protected areas.
PARIVESH portal: Online portal where details of proposals submitted by States/UTs are available in the public domain.
Protected Areas National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries: Areas designated for the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity, from which villages are being relocated.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 201
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Conversion of Forest Villages into Revenue Villages
201. DR. FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the number of forest villages identified in the country by the Government;
(b) whether the Government proposes to convert such villages into revenue villages;
(c) if so, the time by which these villages are likely to be converted into revenue villages;
and
(d) whether there is any action plan prepared by the Government in this regard and if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) The prior approval of the Central Government under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam
Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 is required for the de-reservation/diversion of
forest land for conversion of forest villages into revenue villages and for
voluntary village relocation from various Protected Areas.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines
under Para 12.8 and 12.9 of Chapter 12 of the Consolidated Guidelines and
Clarifications dated 29.12.2023 for relocation of villages in accordance with the
directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in order dated 28th January, 2019,
regarding relocation/rehabilitation of the villages from the core/critical tiger
reserves and core of the Protected Areas (National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries) to the periphery of Reserved Forest/Sanctuaries/National Parks
subject to certain conditions.
In this regard, the proposals received from the States/UTs are dealt as per the
Rules and Guidelines made under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980. The details of such proposals submitted by the States/UTs are
available in public domain on PARIVESH portal (www.parivesh.nic.in).
It is pertinent to mention here that the 'land' is a State subject. The forest areas
and the legal boundaries thereof are determined and maintained by the concerned
State/UT. That, inter-alia, being the repository of land records, State
Government/UT Administration has the primary responsibility to maintain the
detail of forest villages.
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