173K hectares of forest cleared in India since 2014

India's environment minister, Bhupender Yadav, informed the Lok Sabha that 173,396.87 hectares of forest land have been cleared over the past nine years for various projects. This area is larger than Delhi. The clearance occurred from 2014-15 to 2023-24 under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. Yadav's comments came in response to a question from CPI(ML) MP Raja Ram Singh. He mentioned that the Forest Survey of India's methods for assessing forest cover have improved significantly over the years due to advancements in technology. The latest report used high-resolution satellite images to provide more accurate data. However, experts have raised concerns about how India defines forest cover. Critics argue that the current definitions include farms and plantations, which may inflate the reported forest area. In another update, Kirti Vardhan Singh, the minister of state for environment, revealed that 59,882.07 hectares of forest land were approved for non-forestry purposes between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Madhya Pradesh saw the largest area diverted, with 14,157.02 hectares cleared during this period. Singh emphasized that the responsibility for forest conservation lies mainly with state governments. He noted that existing laws, like the Indian Forest Act of 1927, guide the protection of forest resources. State governments and Union Territories are expected to act according to these regulations to manage and protect forests.