Encroached Area Exceeds Combined Size of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa
New Delhi, April 1 — More than 13,000 square kilometres of India's forest land—an area larger than the total geographical spread of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa combined—is currently under encroachment, according to a report submitted by the Union Environment Ministry to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).This data was submitted in response to the NGT’s directive from April 2023, following its suo motu cognisance of earlier reports highlighting widespread forest encroachments across the country.
Forest Encroachment Surges Past 13,000 Sq Km
As per the ministry’s latest submission to the NGT, a total of 13,05,668.1 hectares, equivalent to 13,056 sq km, of forest area is under encroachment across 25 states and Union Territories as of March 2024. This marks a significant rise from the 7,506.48 sq km reported in 2023.The data was provided by the following states and UTs:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jharkhand, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
Madhya Pradesh and Assam Lead in Encroachments
Among all the reporting states, Madhya Pradesh accounts for the largest encroachment, with 5,460.9 sq km of forest land affected. This is followed by:- Assam: 3,620.9 sq km
- Karnataka: 863.08 sq km
- Maharashtra: 575.54 sq km
- Arunachal Pradesh: 534.9 sq km
- Odisha: 405.07 sq km
- Uttar Pradesh: 264.97 sq km
- Mizoram: 247.72 sq km
- Jharkhand: 200.40 sq km
- Chhattisgarh: 168.91 sq km
Many States Yet to Submit Data
Despite repeated reminders, several states and UTs have not yet submitted their data, including:Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal, Nagaland, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The Environment Ministry mentioned that reminders were sent via letters on May 1, May 17, and May 28, 2023, followed by phone calls and a meeting on November 11. Further reminder letters were issued on February 22 and March 26, 2024, requesting pending states to furnish the data in a tabulated format.
Uncertainty Around Removed Encroachments
According to the ministry, encroachments have been removed from 409.77 sq km of forest land. However, it remains unclear whether this reclaimed area has been deducted from the total encroachment figures submitted as of March 2024.Understanding Recorded Forest Area (RFA)
The encroached areas fall under the Recorded Forest Area (RFA), which refers to government-designated forest land regardless of tree cover. RFA is categorized as:- Reserved Forests: Enjoy full protection, with most activities like hunting and grazing banned.
- Protected Forests: Certain activities are permitted unless specifically restricted.
- Unclassed Forests: Neither reserved nor protected, often lacking formal classification.
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