Over 13,000 sq km of forest encroached

New Delhi

A concerning report from the Union Environment Ministry reveals that over 13,000 sq km of forest land in 25 states and Union Territories is currently under encroachment, which is more area than the total geographical size of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa combined. This data was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) following the NGT's suo motu cognisance of a PTI report last year.

The NGT had instructed the Ministry to compile and submit detailed information on forest encroachment across the country. As of March 2024, the report indicates that 13,056 sq km of forest area is under encroachment in these 25 regions. States like Madhya Pradesh and Assam are particularly affected, with Madhya Pradesh alone accounting for 5,460.9 sq km of encroached land, while Assam follows with 3,620.9 sq km.

Other states with significant encroachment include Karnataka (863.08 sq km), Maharashtra (575.54 sq km), and Arunachal Pradesh (534.9 sq km). In addition, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand also report notable encroachments.

The report categorized the encroached forest lands as part of the Recorded Forest Area (RFA), which is divided into reserved forests, protected forests, and unclassed forests. Despite efforts to remove encroachment, only 409.77 sq km of forest land has been cleared so far. The ministry continues to press the remaining states and UTs, including Bihar, Rajasthan, and Delhi, to submit their data and help curb this growing issue.