SRINAGAR: The Union Government on Thursday informed Parliament that 1,178.58 hectares of forest land in Jammu and Kashmir were approved for diversion for non-forest purposes between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2026, under the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the approvals in Jammu and Kashmir were spread over five years, with 262.93 hectares diverted in 2021-22, 186.51 hectares in 2022-23, 126.65 hectares in 2023-24, 292.09 hectares in 2024-25 and 310.39 hectares in 2025-26.
Nationally, the Centre approved the diversion of 1,05,594.32 hectares of forest land during the five-year period. The largest areas were diverted for mining and quarrying (23,976.72 hectares), followed by roads (22,284.65 hectares), hydel and irrigation projects (18,788.12 hectares) and power transmission and village electrification projects (14,006.45 hectares).
The Ministry said every proposal for diversion of forest land is examined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account its likely impact on forests, wildlife and the environment. It stated that diversion is permitted only where it is unavoidable, site-specific and restricted to the minimum area required for the project.
The government added that approvals are subject to mandatory mitigation measures, including compensatory afforestation, payment of Net Present Value (NPV), soil and moisture conservation works, wildlife management plans and catchment area treatment plans, wherever applicable.
According to the reply, 6,434.79 hectares of compensatory afforestation were undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir under CAMPA funds during 2019-20 to 2023-24, with the reported plantation survival rate ranging between 60 and 66 per cent.
Across the country, 1,78,261.52 hectares were brought under compensatory afforestation during the same period under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016. The Ministry said afforestation and other mitigation measures are implemented by States and Union Territories through approved Annual Plans of Operation in accordance with the CAF Act, CAF Rules and the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam.
