Dhami urges PM for green light to forestland transfer proposals

The Chief Minister requested the PM to consider the special geographical condition of Uttarakhand, where the Central government and its agencies are struggling to find suitable land for compensatory plantations necessary for road construction projects.

The current Forest Conservation and Development Rules and Guidelines, 2023 stipulate that only non-forest land can be used for construction purposes. Additionally, these rules allow for compensatory plantations on twice the forestland area recorded by the revenue department but not under the forest department’s control.

A statement from the state government highlighted that Uttarakhand is 67% forest-covered, limiting the availability of land for development projects. The Chief Minister noted that Uttarakhand’s strategic location, bordering an international frontier, exacerbates delays in project approvals due to the lack of available land under the Forest Conservation and Development Act, 2023. This affects road and infrastructure construction by various government bodies, including the NHAI, BRO, ITBP, Railways, and the Army Department.