Around 11,89,294 hectares of forest land has been converted for use in non-forestry purpose after giving approvals to 23,511 proposals since 1980, the government today said.
"Since October 25, 1980, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has granted approval for diversion of 11,89,294 ha of forest land for non-forestry purpose involving 23,511 proposals received from various state/ UT governments," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written response to Rajya Sabha.
Of these, maximum approvals were given to Madhya Pradesh which involved 1,056 proposals and 3.88 lakh ha of land, followed by Chhattisgarh where approval was given to divert 1.06 lakh ha of land for non-forestry purpose. Maharashtra was given a go ahead to divert 1.01 ha of land for non-forestry purpose involving 1,610 proposals.
The Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change added that the state/ UT governments, under the National Afforestation Programme, have taken up afforestation over 20,71,747 ha of land in various parts of the country during the past 14 years.
In addition to this, compensatory afforestation is also being carried out, in lieu of the forest land diverted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
