Encroachment of Forest Land in the Country

The protection of forest areas is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State /Union Territory Governments under the relevant provisions of various Central/State Acts, Rules and Regulations. This Ministry provides financial assistance to the State Forest Departments under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Intensification of Forest Management’ to strengthen their forest protection machinery by way of infrastructure development, use of modern technology and improved communication.  This infrastructural support provided to all State/UT Governments help them in demarcation of forest with boundary pillar, enhances the patrolling capabilities of frontline staff and strengthens efforts for eviction of forest land encroachers. Other efforts being made by various State Governments for removing encroachment includes delegation of powers of Collectors to Divisional Forest officers (DFOs) under Public Premises and Land Recovery Act, constitution of special eviction squads with the help of Police and Revenue departments, and expediting the cases of forest encroachments under trials in various Courts, etc.

Annexure

 “ENCROACHMENT OF FOREST LAND IN THE COUNTRY”

S. No.	Name of States	Area Under Encroachment (in ha.)	As on (Date)
1	Andhra Pradesh	2,56,000.00	11.03.2011
2	Bihar	Nil	01.12.2010
3	Chhattisgarh	1,18,494.60	07.03.2011
4	Gujarat	34,791.00	31.03.2010
5	Haryana	184.63	24.11.2011
6	H.P	1,832.1403	21.03.2011
7	Karnataka	96,014.349	14.03.2011
8	Kerala	42,420.5085	16.05.2011
9	M.P	8,077.72	27.08.2011
10	Maharashtra	85,388	31.12.2010
11	Orissa	78,505.077	01.01.2004
12	Punjab	7404	23.11.2011
13	Tamil Nadu	14,352.16	07.03.2011
14	Uttaranchal	9,676	31.03.2010
15	West Bengal	12,660.972	31.03.2010
16	Arunachal Pradesh	58,553.07	04.03.2011
17	Assam	2,59,700.00	18.03.2011
18	Manipur	1,918.37	02.08.2011
19	Meghalaya	9,378.00	21.03.2011
20	Mizoram	12,057.90	01.10.2010
21	Nagaland	2,671.86	22.11.2010
22	Sikkim	3,300.96	27.05.2011
23	Tripura	47,758.14	16.03.2011
24	A & N Islands	3,326.63	10.03.2011
25	Chandigarh	14.00	11.03.2011
26	D&N Haveli	613.30	22.12.2010
27	Daman & Diu	87.83	28.09.2010
28	Lakshadweep	Nil	16.03.2011
29	Puducherry	Nil