Executive Summary:
This document provides answers to questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding tree plantation and forest conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh. It addresses concerns about sapling survival rates, forest degradation due to mining, pending development projects, and monitoring of plantation schemes. The period primarily discussed is the decade from 2010-11 to 2019-20, with forest cover analysis referencing reports from 2013 and 2023.
Key Points / Main Content:
Tree Plantation:
* Chhattisgarh successfully planted approximately 18 crore saplings between 2010-11 and 2019-20.
* Ninety percent of monitored plantation sites showed a good survival rate.
Forest Degradation:
* Forest Survey of India reports from 2013 and 2023 indicate no significant forest degradation in Chhattisgarh.
* The 2023 report shows an increase in Very Dense Forest area.
* Forest land diversions for mining adhere to the Van Sankrashan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, with Gram Sabha consent obtained as required.
Development Projects:
* No project related to Chhattisgarh is pending beyond the stipulated 105-day timeline according to the PARIVESH Portal.
Tree Plantation on Unused Land:
* Plantations occur within approved Working Plans and on land provided by the Revenue Department.
* The Forest Department does not maintain a specific category of "unused land."
Monitoring of Schemes:
* Schemes are monitored through manual field inspections, inter-circle verification, and third-party verification for CAMPA-funded plantations.
* GIS-based monitoring is conducted via the eGreen Watch portal.
* All plantation sites are geotagged for transparency and accountability.
Impact Analysis:
State of Chhattisgarh:
* Impact: The state's forest conservation and afforestation efforts are highlighted and scrutinized.
* Action Required: Maintain adherence to regulations for forest land diversion and continue monitoring and reporting on plantation survival rates and forest cover.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for providing oversight and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring project timelines via the PARIVESH Portal, oversee the implementation of monitoring schemes.
Department of Forests and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring plantation schemes.
* Action Required: Continue with manual inspections, intercircle verification, and third-party verification, alongside GIS-based monitoring and geotagging.
Gram Sabhas:
* Impact: Their consent is required for forest land diversion for mining projects.
* Action Required: Ensure participation in decision-making processes related to forest land diversion, as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies. It is the primary ministry answering the question in the policy text.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India where the tree plantation and forest degradation are being monitored, and development projects are pending environmental clearance.
Bastar: A region in Chhattisgarh, India, mentioned in the context of forest degradation due to mining projects.
Korba: A region in Chhattisgarh, India, mentioned in the context of forest degradation due to mining projects.
Dantewada: A region in Chhattisgarh, India, mentioned in the context of forest degradation due to mining projects.
Forest Survey of India: An organization that provides reports on the state of forests in India, used for comparative analysis of forest cover in Chhattisgarh.
Van Sankrashan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980: An Indian law related to forest conservation, under which forest land diversions for mining are carried out.
Forest Rights Act, 2006: An Indian law that grants rights to forest-dwelling communities, mentioned in relation to obtaining consent from Gram Sabhas for mining projects.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 58
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Monitoring of Tree Plantation
58. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether 18 crore saplings claimed to have been planted in Chhattisgarh over a decade
out of which a large number of saplings did not survive and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether there has been massive degradation in forest area due to the mining projects
in areas like Bastar, Korba and Dantewada in the State of Chhattisgarh and whether
the consent of concerned Gram Sabha was taken for the said projects and if so, the
details thereof;
(c) whether several development projects in the said State are pending for years due to
lack of environmental clearance and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any concrete action plan has been made for tree plantation on the unused
land, if so, the details thereof and the total area of land worked upon;
(e) whether the monitoring of all these Schemes through measures like satellite mapping,
geo-tagging or social audit has been ensured by the Government; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the initiatives taken
by the Government for upkeeping of the said planted trees?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) In the decade from 2010-11 to 2019-20, the State of Chhattisgarh has successfully
planted approximately 18 crore saplings, reflecting a strong commitment to
environmental conservation and afforestation. Monitoring efforts have been
consistently undertaken, and ninety percent of sites were observed to have a good
survival rate, indicating a high overall success rate in plantation efforts.
(b) A comparative analysis of the Forest Survey of India (FSI) reports from 2013 and
2023 reveals no significant degradation in forest cover in Chhattisgarh. Further, the
2023 report highlights a notable increase in the area under Very Dense Forest,
reflecting the efforts taken by Chattisgarh in forest conservation and sustainable
management. All forest land diversions for mining in Chhattisgarh are carried out in
strict adherence to the provisions of the Van (Sankrashan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, with due consent obtained from
Gram Sabhas as per provisions of these acts.(c) No proposal related to Chhattisgarh State is pending beyond the stipulated timeline of
105 days as per available information portrayed in the PARIVESH Portal of the
Ministry.
(d) Plantations within forest areas are carried out in line with the approved Working Plans
and also on land made available by the Revenue Department. However, it may be
noted that the Forest Department does not maintain any specific category of land
termed as unused land.
(e)&(f) Monitoring of schemes implemented by the Department of Forests and Climate
Change is conducted through manual field inspections and inter-circle verification by
concerned officers. For CAMPA-funded plantations, third-party verification is
undertaken, along with GIS-based monitoring via the e-Green Watch portal. All
plantation sites are also geo-tagged to ensure transparency and accountability in
monitoring.
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