**Executive Summary**
This document responds to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 122, answered on 09.02.2026, regarding forest cover in urban areas. It provides information on forest cover assessment by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and the Smart Cities Mission (SCM). The report specifies the forest cover of major mega cities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Forest Cover Assessment:**
* The Forest Survey of India (FSI) biennially assesses forest and tree cover across the country and publishes findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
* Assessment is based on remote sensing, verified by ground data and the National Forest Inventory.
* **Forest Cover Statistics (ISFR 2023):**
* Total forest cover in Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad is 511.81 sq km (10.26% of the total geographical area).
* An increase of 2.09 sq km of forest cover compared to the ISFR 2021 assessment.
* Forest cover in major urban areas has remained broadly stable.
* Forest cover varies based on location, policies, and environmental priorities.
* **Smart Cities Mission (SCM):**
* The SCM uses area-based development to create replicable models.
* Cities under SCM are developed based on Smart City Proposals (SCPs) across various sectors and are approved by the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC).
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing information on forest cover and the Smart Cities Mission to the Lok Sabha.
* **Action Required:** Continue to assess and report on forest cover in urban areas and support the Smart Cities Mission.
**Mega Cities (Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad)**
* **Impact:** The report provides current statistics on the forest cover, which can inform environmental policies and urban planning.
* **Action Required:** Cities should review the report to understand their current forest cover status and assess their environmental priorities to increase forest cover.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government body responsible for environmental and forest policy.
India State of Forest Report (ISFR): A biennial report published by the Forest Survey of India on the state of forest and tree cover in India.
Forest Survey of India (FSI): An organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover in the country.
Smart Cities Mission (SCM): An urban renewal and retrofitting program by the Government of India with the mission to develop smart cities across the country.
Mega Cities (Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad): Major metropolitan areas where forest cover is being monitored.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO 122
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Forest Cover in Urban Areas
*122. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the forest cover in urban areas has been disappearing very fast and it is well
below six per cent in some metro cities, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the present status of smart cities which have the target of having maximum green
covered area?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)
(a) to (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (B) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.122 DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING
‘FOREST COVER IN URBAN AREAS’ BY SHRI BALWANT BASWANT
WANKHADE:
(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). The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote
sensing supported by intensive ground verification and field data from the National Forest
Inventory.
As per ISFR 2023, the total forest cover of mega cities namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi,
Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad is 511.81 square kilometer which is 10.26% of
the total geographical area of the cities. There is an increase of 2.09 square kilometer of forest
cover of the mega cities as compared to the previous assessment reported in ISFR, 2021. The
details of forest cover of the mega cities are given in Annexure.
As per the India State of Forest Report, the overall forest cover in major urban areas has
remained broadly stable during the recent assessment period. The forest cover in major mega
cities varies widely depending on factors such as location, policies and environmental
priorities. While some cities have significant green spaces and forested areas, others have
relatively limited greenery due to urbanization.
(b) The objective of Smart Cities Mission (SCM) is to follow an area-based development
approach through retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield development and a Pan-city through
initiative smart solutions to cover larger parts of the city, so as to create a replicable model.
The cities under SCM developed based on Smart City Proposals (SCPs) received from
States/UTs, across various sectors, viz., smart mobility, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH),
smart governance, smart energy, environment etc., approved by High Powered Steering
Committee (HPSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary.
*********Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 122
due for answer on 09.02.2026 regarding ‘Forest Cover in Urban Areas’
Change in Forest Cover in Major Mega Cities
(Area in square kilometer)
Name of Mega Total Forest Cover Total Forest Forest Cover Change between
City (ISFR 2021) Cover (ISFR ISFR 2021 and ISFR 2023
2023)
Ahmedabad 9.41 14.89 5.48
Bengaluru 89.02 89.61 0.59
Chennai 22.70 20.06 -2.64
Delhi 194.23 194.15 -0.08
Hyderabad 81.81 80.20 -1.61
Kolkata 1.77 2.06 0.29
Mumbai 110.78 110.84 0.06
Total 509.72 511.81 2.09