Public infra to be built on forestland of 22 Red districts
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has given green signal for 22 Naxal-affected districts to build public infrastructure even in forestland. The decision was taken following the demands raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Planning Commission.
The MoEF took this decision of relaxing forest conservation norms in order to allow diversion of forestland for creation of essential infrastructure. Only 13 categories of public infrastructure will be allowed to be built on the forest land of up to five hectares area in these districts identified by the MHA and the Planning Commission for implementation of the Integrated Action Plan.
The 13 categories of public utility infrastructure building that have been allowed in those forest lands include construction of school buildings, anganwadi centres, drinking water facilities, rural roads, panchayat bhawans/community halls, godowns/PDS shops and health centres.
The 22 districts, affected by Left Wing Extremism, where the diversion of forestland for creation of essential infrastructure has been permitted include Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Warangal, Karimnagar, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, Munger, Kaimur, Sitamarhi and West Champaran in Bihar, Khunti, Ranchi (rural) and Giridih in Jharkhand, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur in Orissa, Chandauli and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal, and Chindwara and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh.
In 2011, 60 Naxal-hit districts across India have got approvals from the MoEF, under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for diversion of forestland for infrastructure building. The order of general approval for another 22 districts was passed on December 10, 2012, by the ministry.
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