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Why is India’s Recent Forest Land Clearance Sparking Controversy?

In early 2025, the Indian government approved the diversion of over 8,500 hectares of forest land for infrastructure and development projects. This decision has sparked controversy due to potential violations of Supreme Court orders and concerns over the weakening of forest conservation laws. With compensatory afforestation policies being questioned, environmentalists and legal experts are raising alarms.

What is the Controversy?
Massive Forest Land Clearance
Between February and June 2025, 8,518 hectares (nearly four times the size of Delhi’s IGI Airport) were approved for deforestation.
Approvals came from three key bodies:
Forest Advisory Committee (FAC): 4,711 hectares
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL): 3,457 hectares (including protected areas)
Regional Empowered Committees (REC): 349 hectares

Legal Violations & Supreme Court Orders
The 1996 Godavarman judgment mandated strict protection for all forest categories, including degraded, revenue, and unclassed forests.
However, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 exempted unrecorded forests from protection, allowing clearances in previously safeguarded zones.

Flaws in Compensatory Afforestation (CA)
CA requires planting trees elsewhere to compensate for deforestation.
Now, CA is being done on existing forest land (degraded/unclassed forests), leading to double destruction—natural forests are lost, and replacement plantations lack biodiversity.

Types of Projects Approved
Infrastructure: Roads, railways, transmission lines
Mining: Stone & granite quarrying
Defence: 329 hectares in Leh-Ladakh & Sikkim
Urbanization: Cell towers, irrigation projects

Sample Questions & Answers (For Competitive Exams)
Q1. Which Supreme Court case is linked to India’s forest protection laws?
A: The 1996 Godavarman case, which expanded the definition of forests and mandated their protection.
Q2. What is compensatory afforestation, and why is it criticized?
A: It’s a policy to replant trees elsewhere after deforestation. Critics say CA on forest land degrades ecosystems further and lacks biodiversity.
Q3. How much forest land was cleared in early 2025?
A: 8,518 hectares, approved by FAC, NBWL, and REC.
Q4. What change did the 2023 Forest Amendment Act bring?
A: It exempted unrecorded forests from protection, allowing more deforestation.
Q5. Which regions saw major defence-related forest clearances?
A: Leh-Ladakh and Sikkim (329 hectares approved).

Why is This Important for Exams?
UPSC/SSC/PSC: Questions on environmental laws, Supreme Court rulings, and government policies frequently appear.
KAS/NID/NIFT: Current affairs on sustainable development & conservation are crucial.
Essay & Interview Topics: Debates on “Development vs. Environment” or “Legal Loopholes in Forest Conservation” may be asked.