**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the forest area and conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh. It provides the current forest area, the number of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, details of financial assistance for conservation projects, and measures taken to reduce industrial pollution in the state. The answer references data up to 2025-2026 and mentions revisions to pollution classification methodologies during 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Forest Area:**
* The recorded forest area of Madhya Pradesh is 94,689 square kilometers, which is 30.72% of the state's geographical area, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023).
* **Protected Areas:**
* Madhya Pradesh has 11 National Parks and 24 Wildlife Sanctuaries.
* **Conservation Efforts:**
* Wildlife management is primarily the responsibility of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh.
* The Government of India provides financial assistance under centrally sponsored schemes like Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH), Project Tiger & Elephant.
* Activities covered include protected area management, wildlife conservation outside protected areas, endangered species recovery, habitat improvement, anti-poaching, fire line maintenance, weed eradication, eco-development, community awareness, capacity building, and village relocation.
* **Funds Allocated for Conservation:**
* Financial assistance to Madhya Pradesh:
* ₹ 4233.82 lakh in 2022-23
* ₹ 4775.61 lakh in 2023-24
* ₹ 6642.391 lakh in 2024-25
* ₹ 3424.96 lakh during 2025-26 (till date).
* **Industrial Pollution Reduction:**
* The Ministry notifies emission standards for industries under the Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
* 79 industrial specific environmental standards have been notified.
* General standards under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules are applicable for sectors without specific standards.
* State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee (SPCB/PCC) ensures implementation.
* 17 categories of high pollution industries and others are directed to install Online Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
* Real-time data is transmitted to CPCB and SPCB/PCC, with SMS alerts for exceeding pollution norms.
* CPCB has revised the classification methodology in 2025 to classify sectors into Red, Orange, Green, White and Blue categories with an incentive mechanism for environment-friendly practices.
* SPCBs/PCCs impose emission standards for prior consent as per the Air Act, 1981 and the Water Act, 1974.
**Impact Analysis**
**Madhya Pradesh State Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for wildlife management, conservation, and pollution control within the state. Receives financial assistance from the central government for conservation projects.
* **Action Required:** Implement conservation projects using allocated funds, ensure compliance with emission standards, and take action against industries violating environmental laws.
**Industries in Madhya Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Subject to emission standards and monitoring, and required to adopt pollution control measures.
* **Action Required:** Comply with emission standards, install and maintain OCEMS, respond to SMS alerts by taking corrective measures, and adopt environment-friendly practices to reduce pollution.
**Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**
* **Impact:** Receives real-time pollution data, monitors compliance, and provides standards and classifications.
* **Action Required:** Monitor data, take action against non-compliant industries in coordination with State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee.
**Citizens of Madhya Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of improved forest cover, wildlife conservation, and reduced industrial pollution.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for policies regarding environment, forest and climate change in India.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules that set standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various industries.
Madhya Pradesh: Indian state with significant forest area and the focus of the parliamentary question.
Forest Survey of India (FSI): Organization that assesses forest and tree cover in India.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes: Various programs that provide financial assistance to States/UTs for wildlife and habitat conservation.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1536
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Forest Area in Madhya Pradesh
1536. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of forest area in Madhya Pradesh;
(b) the number of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the said State;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to conserve the endangered species of the State;
(d) the details of the funds allocated for conservation projects in the State during the last three years
and the current year;
(e) whether the Government has planned any new initiatives to reduce industrial pollution in the
State; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover of the country biennially and the
findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per ISFR-2023, the Recorded forest
area of Madhya Pradesh is 94,689 square kilometer which is 30.72% of the geographical area of the
State of Madhya Pradesh.
(b) There are 11 National Parks and 24 Wildlife Sanctuaries in the State of Madhya Pradesh.
(c) & (d) Wildlife management is primarily the responsibility of the respective States and Union
Territories. The Government of India provides financial assistance to States/UTs, including Madhya
Pradesh, under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH)
and Project Tiger & Elephant for conservation and management of Protected Areas, conservation of
wildlife outside Protected Areas, recovery of critically endangered species, habitat improvement, anti-
poaching measures, strengthening of protection networks, maintenance of fire lines, weed eradication,
eco-development, community awareness, capacity building, voluntary village relocation etc.
The funds released under these Centrally Sponsored Schemes to the State of Madhya Pradesh are ₹
4233. 82 lakh in 2022-23, ₹ 4775.61 lakh in 2023-24, ₹ 6642.391 lakh in 2024-25 and ₹ 3424.96 lakh
during 2025-26 (till date).
(e) & (f) The Ministry notifies “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from
various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. So far, 79 industrial
specific environmental standards have been notified. The industrial sectors, for which specific standards
are not available, general standards as notified under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules,1986 are applicable. The concerned State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee
(SPCB/PCC) ensures the implementation of the said standards. In case of non-compliance, action against
industry is taken under provisions of the environmental laws.
CPCB has directed all 17 categories of high pollution potential industries, common hazardous waste and
biomedical waste incinerators, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), Grossly Polluting
Industries (GPIs) in Ganga and Yamuna Basins, Air polluting industries in NCR-Delhi to install Online
Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) for strengthening monitoring mechanism
and effective compliance through self-regulatory mechanism and constant vigil on pollution levels.
Real-time values of environmental pollutants of trade effluent and emissions generated through OCEMS
are transmitted online to CPCB and concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central software processes
the data and in case of value of pollutant parameter exceeds prescribed environmental norms, an
automatic SMS alert is generated and sent to industrial unit, SPCB and CPCB, so that corrective
measures can be taken by the industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by concerned
SPCB/PCC/CPCB.
Further, CPCB classifies various sectors/activities under colour coded categories based on their pollution
potential. During 2025, CPCB has revised the classification methodology to classify sectors into Red,
Orange, Green, White and Blue categories. The Classification-2025 includes incentive mechanism for
the units in any sector that adopt environment friendly practices such as use of 100% cleaner fuel/renewal
energy etc. and ensuring continuous compliance. This will result in better environmental performance
and reduce industrial pollution.
The SPCBs/ PCCs impose emission standards on the industries for granting prior consent (Consent to
Establish/ Consent to Operate), as per the provisions of the Air Act, 1981, apart from the Water Act,
1974.
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