Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Afforestation in lieu of diverted forest land, 08/07/2019

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Afforestation in lieu of diverted forest land, 08/07/2019. The Government of India has diverted a total of 47469.49 hectares of forest land and a total of 62769.58 hectares area has been stipulated for compensatory afforestation (CA)in lieu of the said diversion, during the last three years i.e. 2015-2018. As per the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Government of India accords prior approval for diversion of forest land, for which compensatory afforestation (CA) is an essential condition. The funds for compensatory afforestation (CA),as per norms,are levied from the User Agency in respect of the forest land proposed for diversion. The funds so collected are utilised for compensatory afforestation (CA) only by the concerned State Government/UTs Administration.