Directions issued several months back remain unimplemented
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 26: Though it is mandatory as per the provisions of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and guidelines issued for its implementation yet land bank of suitable non-forest land for compensatory afforestation has not been created in Jammu and Kashmir till date. Due to this, even the directions issued by the Government of the Union Territory more than six months back have remained unimplemented.
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The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 requires the identification of non-forest land for compensatory afforestation to compensate for the loss of forest land diverted for other purposes.
It has generally been seen that a substantial portion of land identified for compensatory afforestation already contains vegetation of varying density and creation of compensatory afforestation doesn’t fully compensate the loss of trees for want of enough space for requisite number of plants to be planted as such concept of creation of land bank of suitable non-forest land was evolved by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) long time back.
Accordingly, the MoEF directed all the States and Union Territories to create land bank of non-forest land so that same can be used to compensate for the loss of forest land. However, in Jammu and Kashmir land bank has yet not been created even after framing of committees on the subject, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Vide Government Order No.1001-JK(GAD) dated May 2, 2024, sanction was accorded to the constitution of committee of officers for identification and creation of land bank of suitable non-forest land for compensatory afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
After one month, the Government, in supersession of earlier order, constituted a fresh committee to handle the task. However, even after the lapse of six months the committee has not done any substantial work as far as creation of land bank of suitable non-forest land for compensatory afforestation is concerned, sources informed.
When contacted, some of the officers, who are members of the committee, while wishing anonymity, said, “as per the order, the committee was supposed to submit monthly progress report to the Forest, Environment and Ecology Department but the fact is no major headway has been made in handling the task assigned by the Government”.
In response to a question, they said, “the land bank of non-forest land for compensatory afforestation is required to be created in each district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir so that land from the bank is readily made available to the user agencies whenever required”.
Revenue land, Gair Mumkin Jhaad, Gair Mumkin Jungle, Gair Mumkin Pahar, Banjar Kadim and Gair Mumkin Khad etc and any other wasteland which are under undisputed possession of Revenue Department, areas falling in wildlife corridors to improve connectivity between habitats and areas falling in and around the protected areas and eco-sensitive zones of protected areas can be considered for creation of land bank, sources informed.
Likewise, habitat of rare, threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna located in the areas not under direct administrative and management control of Forest Department and Wildlife Protection Department can also be considered to ensure long-term conservation of such habitats, they further said, adding areas falling in catchment areas of important rivers, water supply schemes, irrigation projects and hydroelectric projects can also be given priority.
“During the process of identification and creation of land bank of non-forest land, the committee of officers is supposed to ensure that the land is encumbrance free and suitable for afforestation. Moreover, the panel is required to forward the recommendations along with all requisite revenue papers of the land parcels to Forest, Ecology and Environment and Revenue Departments for the creation of land bank for compensatory afforestation”, sources said.
The panel was also directed by the Government to integrate requisite data with Gati Shakti for easier planning and collaboration.
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