India’s Forests Under Siege: Over 13,000 Sq km of Land Encroached Across 25 States and UTs
Encroachment Crisis: India’s Forest Land Under Threat
India is grappling with an alarming crisis as over 13,000 square kilometers of forest land, equivalent to the combined size of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa, is under encroachment across 25 states and Union Territories. The Union Environment Ministry has revealed this shocking truth to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), citing data that highlights the gravity of the situation.
The NGT took suo motu cognisance of a Press Trust of India (PTI) report in 2024, which showed that 7,506.48 square kilometers of forest area, more than five times the size of Delhi, was under encroachment. In response, the NGT directed the environment ministry to compile the details of forest encroachment in all states and Union Territories in a prescribed format.
The ministry has since submitted a report to the NGT, revealing that a staggering 13,056 square kilometers of forest land was under encroachment as of March 2024. The affected states and Union Territories include Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadar & Nagar and Daman & Diu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, and Manipur.
The report also highlights that Assam alone accounts for 3,620.9 square kilometers of encroached forest area, making it a significant contributor to the overall crisis. Madhya Pradesh has the highest forest encroachment, with 5,460.9 square kilometers affected as of March 2024, followed by Karnataka, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha.
The ministry’s data shows that a total of 863.08 square kilometers of forest land in Karnataka, 575.54 square kilometers in Maharashtra, 534.9 square kilometers in Arunachal Pradesh, 405.07 square kilometers in Odisha, 264.97 square kilometers in Uttar Pradesh, 247.72 square kilometers in Mizoram, 200.40 square kilometers in Jharkhand, and 168.91 square kilometers in Chhattisgarh are under encroachment.
Despite the alarming numbers, the ministry has reported that 409.77 square kilometers of forest land has been removed from encroachment so far. However, it remains unclear whether this area was excluded from the total forest land under encroachment as of March 2024.
The ministry has been reminding states to submit data, sending letters in May 2023 and further reminders in February and March 2024. The NGT has also been pressing for timely submissions, with a meeting held on November 11, 2023, to discuss the matter. The ministry’s report suggests that some states, such as Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, have yet to submit their data.
India’s forest encroachment crisis serves as a stark reminder of the need for effective governance and environmental protection. As the country grapples with the consequences of encroachment, it is crucial that state governments prioritize the preservation of forest land and work towards restoring the natural habitats that are under threat.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/over-13000-sq-km-of-forest-land-under-encroachment-across-25-states-uts-assam-most-affected-1192039-2025-04-01?utm_source=rssfeed
Category :
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-04-01 10:56:00
