Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980

The Forest Advisory Committee has proposed a uniform penalty framework under the Van Adhiniyam, 1980, to address inconsistencies in forest violation penalties. This move aims to strengthen accountability through standardised penal compensatory afforestation measures.

Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980

Purpose: Enacted to regulate forest land diversion for non-forestry activities.
Central Approval: Requires prior clearance from the Central Government for any non-forest use of forest land.
Appeal Mechanism: Allows appeals to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the state or authority.
Advisory Body: Empowers the Centre to constitute the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) for conservation guidance.
Recent Amendment: The 2023 update introduced land-use rationalisation, penal NPV, and new rules aligning conservation with development.

Evolution of Forest Laws in India

Indian Forest Act, 1927: Established state control over forest resources.
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: Centralised approval for forest land diversion.
Amendment, 1988: Prohibited leasing forest land to private entities.
Amendment, 2023: Renamed as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; redefined “forest” and introduced exemptions for strategic projects.
Rules, 2025: Streamlined compensatory afforestation (CA), working permissions, & penalty mechanisms.

Major Causes of Deforestation and Forest Land Diversion in India

Infrastructure Expansion: Over 3.6 lakh hectares of forest land diverted since 1980 for roads, railways, and power projects (MoEFCC, 2024).
Mining Activities: Mining accounts for nearly 20% of total forest land diversion, especially in mineral-rich states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Agricultural Encroachment: Around 11% of recorded forest area faces encroachment for agriculture and settlement expansion (FSI, 2023).
Industrial Development: Industrial and energy projects contribute to over 30% of clearances under the Forest Conservation Act (MoEFCC data).
Urbanisation Pressure: Rapid urban growth causes loss of peri-urban forests, with India losing about 1.6 million hectares of tree cover (2001–2023) (Global Forest Watch, 2024).

Challenges in Implementation

Penalty Variance: Absence of uniform guidelines leads to varied penalties across states. E.g., similar violations attract different fines in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Monitoring Gaps: Only about 60% of forest diversion violations are timely reported due to poor coordination between state and central authorities.
Developmental Conflict: Projects like mining in Chhattisgarh and road expansion in Arunachal Pradesh often override forest conservation priorities.
Legal Ambiguity: Differences between the 2023 Van Adhiniyam Rules and the Supreme Court’s Godavarman (1996) interpretation create legal uncertainty.
Afforestation Delay: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG, 2022) found a less than 60% survival rate in compensatory afforestation areas.

Way Forward

Uniform Framework: Implement FAC’s 2025 proposal for consistent penalties and transparent reporting across all states.
Tech Use: Expand GIS-based mapping & the e-Green Clearances Portal for real-time forest use tracking.
Fund Utilisation: Utilise the ₹54,000 crore CAMPA corpus effectively for genuine afforestation projects.
Community Involvement: Revitalise Joint Forest Management (JFM) involving local communities for better forest regeneration outcomes.
Policy Alignment: Align the 2023 Rules with Godavarman directives to ensure legal clarity and ecological accountability.

The Van Adhiniyam, 1980, marks India’s move from forest exploitation to sustainable stewardship, rooted in ecological balance. Its success hinges on strong enforcement, innovation, and community participation to meet net-zero and biodiversity goals.

Reference: Indian Express | PMFIAS: Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 413

Q. Despite the enactment of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and its recent amendments, large-scale deforestation and diversion of forest land continue unabated in India. Analyse the underlying causes and suggest measures for ensuring effective forest conservation. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a brief introduction about forest conservation in India.
Body: Analyse the underlying causes of deforestation & suggest measures for forest conservation.
Conclusion: Emphasis on a sustainable and inclusive approach and mention the way forward.