Parliament Question: Ecological degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in Chhattisgarh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 48 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 Ecological degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in Chhattisgarh

48. SMT. PHULO DEVI NETAM:

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

state:

(a) whether Government has undertaken any assessment of ecological degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh during the last three years and the current year;

(b) the details of funds allocated and disbursed under centrally sponsored schemes such as the National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for projects in the State, particularly in Bastar region; and

(c) the details of steps being taken by Government to strengthen central monitoring, enforcing compliance with environmental safeguards and ensuring time-bound restoration of forest and catchment areas in the Bastar region? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, carries out assessment of forest and tree cover of the country including the State of Chhattisgarh on a biennial basis and publishes the findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), based on wall-to-wall remote sensing supported by ground verification and National Forest Inventory data. The protection, conservation and management of biodiversity, forest and tree resources and ecology are primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. There are legal and policy frameworks to address ecological degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss, including the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, the National Forest Policy and the National Action Plan on Climate Change, under which the States/UTs take appropriate action in accordance with the provisions made therein.

(b) and (c) The Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States and Union Territories for enhancement of forest and tree cover, conservation of biodiversity and management of ecology through Centrally Sponsored Schemes and programmes such as the National Afforestation Programme, the Green India Mission (GIM) and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The National Afforestation Programme has been subsumed under the Mission framework. During the lastthree financial years including the current year, an amount of ₹2.83 crore has been released to the State Government of Chhattisgarh under the Green India Mission. Further, under CAMPA, funds are released to the State CAMPA on the basis of approved Annual Plans of Operation;

during the period from 2019-20 to 2024-25, an amount of ₹5,257.65 crore has been approved for the State of Chhattisgarh, against which ₹4,010.43 crore has been reported as utilised by the State Forest Department, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme guidelines.

Further, a plantation campaign “एक पेड़ माँ के नाम # Plant4Mother” has also been launched on the occasion of World Environment Day 2024 and in the current year also to undertake plantation activities across the country. This campaign follows the “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach with participation of all stakeholders for increasing the green cover in the country. The campaign has contributed large scale plantation aiding the enhancement of green cover in the country.

Monitoring and review of activities under these schemes are carried out through the prescribed mechanisms, including approval of Annual Plans of Operation and examination of progress and utilisation reports submitted by the State Governments, while implementation of activities and compliance with applicable Acts and rules are undertaken by the State Government concerned.

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