OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 347
TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.02.2015
Metropolitan cities having forest areas
347. SHRI P.L.PUNIA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state
(a) the names of metropolitan cities where forest area exists as per the provisions of forest
laws and the area of such land, city-wise;
(b) whether Government is aware that forest land is decreasing at a fast pace in and around
metropolitan cities, if so, the response of Government thereon;
(c) whether the law made in this regard is inadequate; and
(d) whether Government proposes to amend the law made to make it more effective and if
so, by when and the details of draft prepared in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, a subordinate organization under Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change has been carrying out mapping and assessment
of forest resources in the country biennially since 1987. The India State of Forest Report2013 is the latest report published by Forest Survey of India. This report contains the
information regarding forest cover of all States/UTs including district-wise breakup.
However, as per the information provided by the Ministry of Urban Development, the
forest cover of metropolitan cities as per Master Plan of the city concerned is given as
under:(i)
Mumbai - 86.57 square kilometers
(ii) Delhi
- 180 square kilometers
(iii) Chennai
- 24 square kilometers
(iv) Kolkata
- Not Available
(v) Bengaluru - 97 square kilometers
(vi) Hyderabad - 88.4 square kilometers
(vii) Jaipur (Region)-74.47 square kilometers
(viii) Chandigarh - 34.4 square kilometers
(b), (c) & (d) No such report that forest land is decreasing at fast pace in and around metropolitan cities
has been received. The management and protection of forest area is primarily the
responsibility of concerned State/UT Governments. However, there are Central Acts such
as Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and State Acts/Rules to deal
with issues related to protection and management of forest areas. Use of forest land for
non-forest purpose, including in Metropolitan Areas requires prior approval of Central
Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. As of now, there is no specific
proposal to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
As per the Landuse Classification in Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation
and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014, 'Forests' are normally covered under
"Recreational" use. For prescribing norms, the forests are classified under "Open Spaces",
whereas Parks/Playgrounds are classified as "Organised Green". In order to conserve and
protect the forests in and around the cities and towns, the State Governments need to
adhere to the Norms prescribed in the URDPFI Guidelines, 2014.
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