In 22 years, successive Himachal govts diverted 10,926 hectares forest land 

Rastogi, through the affidavit in the NGT, informed that from 2001 to 2023, a total of 10,926.42 ha forest land was diverted for 2,067 projects including hydel power projects, road construction, and projects pertaining to irrigation and public health department (I&PH). The land has been diverted under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

The NGT, taking suo motu notice of media media reports in April 13, 2024 pertaining to India losing 2.33 million ha of tree cover since 2000′ had issued notices to all the states and Union Territories seeking their replies.

According to the affidavit, 18,374 cases of encroachments involving approximately 5,689 ha of forest land were detected between 2001 and 2023. Out of this, 3,097 ha, involving 9,903 cases, was successfully cleared of encroachment. Regarding the forest fires reported between 2001 and 2024, the affidavit states, “Approximately 135,841.89 ha of the forest area was affected in 22,517 incidents causing a loss of approximately Rs 46.38 Cr between 2009-25”.

On the response of the afforestation and compensatory afforestation (CA) under the various central and state government schemes, the affidavit claims that approximately 3.54 lakh ha and 13,934 ha of area was afforested and compensatory afforested, respectively through the plantation of different species. While afforestation is the practice in which plantations are carried out under government sponsored schemes through NGOs, educational institutes, private institutes etc. Compensatory afforestation (CA) is an exercise wherein the plantation is compulsory for the department to which forest land was diverted for development projects.

Himachal Pradesh has a total geographical area of 55,673 sqkm, of which the recorded forest area is 37,033 sqkm.

Asked what are the primary causes of forest and tree cover loss in the state, Rastogi said, “The state of Himachal Pradesh has shown an increase of 1220 sqkm in last 23 years. Hence, there is no loss noticed”.

Meanwhile, environmentalist Manshi Asher raised concerns, especially over compulsory afforestation. “The forest department needs to understand that what kind of forest land is being diverted and what kind of afforestation, or plantation is being done to compensate the diverted land. Second: For a long time, Forest Survey of India (FSI) used to analyse the forest and green cover through the satellite images in which orchards, bushes and trees on private land too were included in the green area. Third: when we divert a developed forest, it results into soil erosion, and damages local eco-system. This is the reason why Himachal Pradesh has been becoming vulnerable to the disasters like landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts”.