Forest Destruction: The Hidden Cost of India's Industrial Ambitions

Forest Cover Depletion and Rapid Industrialisation

In recent years, India's rapid development and industrial expansion have come at a significant environmental cost. While economic growth is essential, it must not overshadow the dire consequences of deforestation and environmental degradation. The depletion of forest cover in India has reached alarming levels, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of our natural resources. 

Last year, the environment ministry disclosed some shocking details about the amount of forest cover that is depleting in the country. It was revealed that over three lakh hectares of forestland have been diverted for non-forestry use in India over the last 15 years under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Debi Goenka, Executive Trustee of the Conservation Action Trust, argues that this figure is a significant underestimate. “The figure quoted by the government is actually the official figure,” he states. “What this figure has not taken into account is the encroachment that has taken place where the forest has been illegally cut and used for other activities. The figure cited by the government also does not include the forest which was in the possession of the revenue department and was never handed over to the forest department as required."

Goenka further explains that the Supreme Court order in the T.N. Godavarman case, mandated that all forests in India were to be notified and covered under the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act. “Now, unfortunately, the recent amendment of the Forest Conservation Act, which was passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, is actually meant to try and circumvent the Supreme Court order,” he adds.

The amendments to the Forest Conservation Act have made it easier for parties to encroach on forest lands. Goenka highlights, “The Forest Conservation Act was a significant hurdle because they had to submit an application to the Government of India with all the details of encroachment. With the amendment to the act, it has become easier for them to further deplete our forest cover.”

Mahesh Pandya, Director of Paryavaran Mitra, asserts that the Forest Conservation Act was originally intended to protect forests, but the amendment has undermined its purpose. “It is such a regressive step, and that is why tribals and environmental groups are worried. The government is trying to make India a powerful nation by developing industries. That is fine, but we can't do that by killing our forests,” he states.

According to the government, Punjab has seen the highest rate of forest land diversion for non-forestry purposes. Data reveals that 61,318 hectares of forestland were diverted in Punjab, the highest among all states and union territories.

Samita Kaur, an environmentalist who has closely studied Punjab’s ecosystem, comments, “Actually, what is happening in Punjab is that our forest cover is even less than one percent. If you go by the overall green cover, it is about 1.47 percent, which is even less than Rajasthan. Many industries are coming up on land that is supposed to be green. Even the agricultural land has been diminishing steadily in Punjab.”

Kaur adds that the situation in Punjab is nothing short of an emergency: “What the government is saying is that industries are coming up and creating employment, but if you delve deeper, the employment generated is largely of unskilled labour, which does not benefit Punjab. The youth of Punjab are migrating abroad because there are no opportunities for them here.”

Dr. Jaya Krushna Panigrahi, Secretary of the Odisha Environmental Society, highlights how states, with the approval of the centre, are diverting forest land. “The environment minister of Odisha had stated in 2023 that about 62,000 hectares of forestland had been converted for non-forestry purposes. This includes for industrialisation, mining, and various other developmental projects. And this happened with the approval of the Ministry of Forest and Environment of the Union government.”

Dr. Panigrahi adds that the situation is likely to worsen with the Odisha government seeking more approvals from the centre. “The Government of Odisha is looking for approval of another 888 hectares of land for the execution of more developmental projects. This means the process is continuing, and there is constant pressure on our forests,” he explains.

The Indian government's figures on forestland diversion have come under scrutiny due to their heavy reliance on satellite imagery while neglecting the crucial process of ground-truthing. Ground-truthing involves physically inspecting and verifying the information gathered from satellite images by visiting the actual location on the ground. This step is essential for obtaining accurate and reliable data, as it helps to confirm the findings and address any discrepancies that satellite images alone might present. By focusing solely on satellite data and doing minimal ground-truthing, the government’s figures may not fully capture the on-the-ground realities.

Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, an environmentalist with 40 years of experience in Telangana and a passionate international campaigner on climate crisis, ecology, and environment, states that even the 19,000 hectares of forestland diversion in Telangana revealed by the government is not the actual figure. “It is an understatement. The real figures are more. In Telangana, a lot of forestland has been diverted for major projects like Kaleshwaram and others. In fact, the forest department has admitted that around five lakh hectares is under dispute with the revenue department. So, whatever figures the government is giving just skims the surface,” he asserts.

As the devastating impacts of climate change and global warming become increasingly evident, the urgency to protect and restore India's forest cover has never been more critical. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm, emphasising that continuing to divert forest land for industrial and developmental purposes is not only shortsighted but also dangerous for the nation's future. 

“I think we have to realise that with this type of climate change and global warming, we cannot afford to divert forestland. We have to protect whatever is left of our forests. We have to regenerate the forest that was destroyed earlier. There is no question of diverting existing forestland. We are making a great mistake. We seem to have forgotten that there will be no water, no clean air without our forests. The whole idea of diverting forestland for so-called developmental activities is now outdated. We cannot carry on with this business aggression model. The situation is so dire that we must think of protecting each sapling, each plant, and each tree,” states Goenka.

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