Maha loses forest land bigger than Mumbai to encroachers

ranks fifth among states that have lost maximum forest areas to encroachers. Of the state’s 61,579 square kilometre (sq km) of forests, which is a fifth of its geographical area, encroachers have taken over 670sq km — more than Greater Mumbai, which is 603sq km.

The data on forest encroachments was submitted by the Union environment ministry in Rajya Sabha last month.

Nationally, encroachments cover 13,612sq km of nearly 7,64,000-lakh sq km forest cover – 23% of the country’s land. The forest area encroached nationally is roughly 10 times the size of New Delhi (1,400sq km).

Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka and Odisha have the largest stretches of encroached forest lands, followed by Maharashtra.

Diversion of land for cultivation and other purposes continues to be the most serious threat to forests.

“Our idea has always been sq km Forest land encroached in state

Total area of Mumbai FIVE STATES THAT HAVE LOST MAXIMUM FOREST AREAS TO ENCROACHERS

1 2 3

4 5

zero tolerance to encroachment. However, we are facing three main concerns when it comes to this issue in Maharashtra – increasing agricultural practices by tribal settlements, construction of religious structures, and increasing urbanisation near tier I and II cities.

“This is not only eating into the habitat of animals but changing the natural biodiversity of forests,” said Shailesh Tembhurnikar, additional principal chief conservator of forest (conservation), Maharashtra forest department,

Madhya Pradesh

Assam Karnataka Odisha Maharashtra 5 3 1 4 2 in-charge of encroachment removal in the state.

Most cases of forest encroachment in Maharashtra in 2017 were reported from Mumbai Metropolitan Region, data from the state forest department showed.

Environmentalists said that encroachments cut forest corridors that animals use to move from one forest area to another.

“There needs to be a detailed study about the forms of encroachment across different forest areas in India. We are fast losing protected spaces and wild- life habitats. Encroachments around rivers will affect the river flow for years. It is our responsibility to preserve what remains of these areas,” said Ravi Singh, secretary general and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (India).

The environment ministry blamed states for not protecting forest areas. “It is the responsibility of states governments to ensure forest encroachments are removed at the earliest,” said an official from the ministry.

State forest departments said that claims to land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) pose as the main hurdle in clearing encroachments.

Virendra Tiwari, chief conservator of forest, Maharashtra, said the FRA allowed tribal communities and villages within protected forests to carry out agricultural practices.

“Prior to this, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, did not allow any encroachment. There are several cases where the FRA is being manipulated. The entire process to hear claims is extremely lengthy” said Tiwari.

MUMBAI:Maharashtra