Releases...........pt4

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests

Central Government has so far stipulated compensatory

AFFORESTATION OVER 13.04 LAKH HECTARE OF LAND

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

 

                The Central Government has so far stipulated compensatory afforestation over 13.04 lakh hectare of land. This include 7.5 lakh hectare of degraded forest land and 5.54 lakh hectare of non-forest land against the diversion of 11.82 lakh hectare of forest land for non forest purposes. The State-wise details of land provided for compensatory afforestation is enclosed at annexure.

As on 30.06.2009, an amount of Rs.9,932.12 crores, has been remitted by the State/UT Governments including Jammu & Kashmir to the Ad-hoc body of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) as per the Supreme Court Order dated 05.05.2006, which includes the monies collected towards compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, catchment area treatment plan, and NPV, etc.

While examining the proposals for diversion of forest land received from the State/UT Governments, the Forest Advisory Committee and State Advisory Group, as the case may be, take utmost care to minimize the felling of trees in the forest areas. This is achieved by minimizing the HFL in cases of submergences for irrigation/hydro electric projects; by realigning the linear projects like roads and transmission lines; by reducing the extent of areas for diversion in cases of mining; and also suggesting alternative non forest land for other projects depending on its feasibility.

Annexure

State-wise Forest & Non-Forest Land Stipulated for Compensatory Afforestation under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980

S. No.	State/UT	No. OF CASES APPROVED	AREA DIVERTED (HA)	COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION STIPULATED (HA)
				Forest land	Non- forest land	Penal CA on forest land	TOTAL
1	Andaman & Nicobar	83	2,765.94	627.75	2035.00	2.75	2665.50
2	Andhra Pradesh	560	49,841.99	7106.07	30026.21	3042.68	40174.96
3	Arunachal Pradesh	143	34,100.71	9997.58	4546.25	6188	20731.83
4	Assam	259	8,246.38	9195.49	1570.79	341.75	11108.03
5	Bihar	95	2,701.27	1627.36	623.33	70.92	2321.61
6	Chandigarh	22	48.69	10.13	20.00	0	30.13
7	Chhattisgarh	448	91,769.67	38705.65	58979.34	16162.09	113847.08
8	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	204	295.00	359.47	278.95	3	641.42
9	Daman & Diu	1	3.95	7.90	0.00	0	7.90
10	Delhi	9	23.32	34.07	5.46	0.25	39.78
11	Goa	95	2,038.57	942.98	462.50	266.77	1672.25
12	Gujarat	1,351	69,447.69	9037.35	53757.47	23776.09	86570.91
13	Haryana	1,609	9,082.01	3012.41	1554.76	618.38	5185.55
14	Himachal Pradesh	1,305	11,819.01	19338.99	547.34	3982.94	23869.27
15	Jammu & Kashmir*	0	0	0.00	0.00	0	0.00
16	Jharkhand	256	16,853.75	15177.34	4932.28	4209.34	24318.96
17	Karnataka	730	44,257.89	6969.99	30295.27	6845.16	44110.42
18	Kerala	222	40,987.48	43165.82	15223.30	29.96	58419.08
19	Madhya Pradesh	949	395,796.79	126306.41	216504.61	90030.84	432841.86
20	Maharashtra	1,546	95,129.90	28909.09	34401.89	19652.78	82963.76
21	Manipur	23	1,160.95	465.37	741.27	0	1206.64
22	Meghalaya	96	408.55	132.65	347.30	0	479.95
23	Mizoram	28	25484.5	19557.97	10553.02	247.31	30358.30
24	Orissa	466	46,758.07	9605.11	41773.57	9550.41	60929.09
25	Pondicherry	1	0.96	0.00	0.00	0	0.00
26	Punjab	2,626	77,939.71	8286.86	1866.30	28327.98	38481.14
27	Rajasthan	637	30,459.81	7554.72	15433.40	10089.68	33077.80
28	Sikkim	305	2,512.67	3461.18	152.27	95.91	3709.36
29	Tamil Nadu	434	5,360.81	676.43	1812.92	1082.09	3571.44
30	Tripura	266	8,262.04	3669.01	1117.10	2049.39	6835.50
31	Uttar Pradesh	596	41,769.09	57194.31	6569.39	2131.15	65894.85
32	Uttarakhand	3,498	62,429.73	66967.09	14468.39	20670.11	102105.59
33	West Bengal	89	4,214.94	2028.49	4035.36	4.66	6068.51
Grand Total		18,952	1,181,971.84	500,131.04	554,635.04	249,472.39	1304238.47

* The Forest (conservation) Act, 1980 is not applicable to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The Jammu & Kashmir has got its own Forest (conservation) Act similar to this Act.

 

kp/dk/kol/17:35 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests

Government proposes to expand the Tiger Projects and Sanctuaries

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

 

                The Government proposes to expand the Tiger Projects and Sanctuaries in the country. 'In principle' approval has been accorded for creation of four new Tiger Reserves namely Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Sunabeda (Orissa), Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh) and Sahyadri (Maharashtra).

                Funding support under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger is provided to tiger range States for relocation of villages from the core/critical tiger habitat of a tiger reserve, identified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for providing inviolate space to tiger population.  The said ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme, has been revised to include, interalia, an enhanced village relocation package (from Rs. 1 lakh/per family to Rs. 10 lakhs/per family) with effect from the current plan period.  The details of funding support (100%) provided to States in this regard during the last three financial years are at Annexure-I.

Annexure-I

Expansion of Tiger Projects

Details of fund released for relocation of villages / settlement of rights under Project Tiger Scheme during the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09

(Rs. in lakhs)

S. No.	State	2006-07	2007-08	2007-08
1.	Madhya Pradesh	30.00	1930.8968	1324.49
2.	Rajasthan	-	100.00	2142.00
3.	Orissa	-	-	350.00
4.	Karnataka	58.80	980.19	-
5.	Uttarakhand	-	10.00	-
	Total	88.80*	3021.087	4086.49

Old package K

 

kp/dk/kol/17:36 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Railways  

New System for accredited media persons to avail concessional train fare from 15th August 2009

 

50 PER CENT CONCESSION IN RAJDHANI/SHATABDI/JAN SHATABDI TRAINS

 

50 PER CENT CONCESSION FOR SPOUSE ONCE IN A YEAR

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

As a follow up to the announcement made by the Minister of Railways Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her Railway Budget 2009-10 speech, for the convenience of accredited media persons, the Ministry of Railways has decided to replace the existing system of Coupon Books for accredited press correspondents by Photo Identity Card based system for availing concessional train fare. Photo identification card will be issued by Railways to accredited press correspondents instead of coupons books. The Photo identification card will be issued on production of the certification by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India and other competent State and local authorities as per the specimen form of certificate. Detailed guidelines and procedures are available at www.indianrailways.gov.in (>Railway Board Directorates > Traffic Commercial > Commercial Circulars > Year 2009).

Accredited press correspondent will be eligible for 50 per cent in the basic fares all classes of Mail/Express trains & all other charges are to be collected in full; and 50 per cent in the all inclusive fares of all classes of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. This concession will not be admissible in Garib Rath trains. The new system of concession based on Photo Identity card and the increased concession on Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains will be effective from 15th August 2009.

The same concession will be extended to Spouse of the accredited Press correspondent while travelling with him/her once in every financial year (April to March). This concession will be issued to the spouse of the accredited Press Correspondent when travelling from the station serving the headquarters to any place and back.

This concession is not admissible for the spouse when travelling alone. For availing the concession for spouse the accredited press correspondent shall give an undertaking to the Chief Reservation Supervisor /Station Manager/Booking Supervisor as per the guidelines at the time of booking the ticket.

 

aks/hk/lk/tr/dk/kol/17:36 hrs. 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests  

Dorito's chips detained at Nhava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai for Varification

IMPORT OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD REQUIRES PRIOR APPROVAL OF GEAC

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

"Dorito's Cool Ranch Corn chips" from USA has been detained at Nhava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai for verification The Customs Department also detained another consignment containing Dorito's Chips manufactured in Taiwan and imported from Singapore. It is believed that they entered without the approval of the GEAC. The Ministry of had received a representation from Greenpeace alleging the import of this GM food. Both the regulations provide for taking punitive action against the importers in case of wrong declaration or import without prior approval of the GEAC. The Food Safety and Standards Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also in the process of framing rules and guidelines for import of GM food

As of date there is no ban on import of GM food. However, import of GM food requires prior approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval committee (GEAC) constituted under 'Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms (HMOs) / Genetically Engineered Organisms (GMOs) or Cells, 1989' notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. A declaration at the port of entry by the importer that the product contains GM material is also mandatory under Schedule - I (Imports) of the ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, 2004-09 under the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on 7.4.2006.

 

kp/dk/kol/17:36 hrs. 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests  

Prior approval to proposals under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 in two stages

 

Maharashtra Deposited Rs.893.54 Crores in Ad-hoc CAMPA Account

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

The Central Government accords prior approval to the proposals received under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 in two stages. Stage-I, which is also known as in-principle approval, is accorded subject to certain stipulations, including payment of Net Present Value, to be complied with by the user agency. On receipt of compliance of the stipulations from the State Government, the final approval under section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is accorded.

 

The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide their order dated 28.03.2008 directed the concerned to approach the Court for seeking grant of exemption from the payment of Net Present Value on a case to case basis by filing an Interlocutory Application (IA). The State Government of Maharashtra has deposited an amount of about Rs.893.54 crores in the account of Ad-hoc CAMPA towards Compensatory Afforestation, Penal Compensatory Afforestation, Catchment Area Treatment Plan and Net Present Value etc.

 

kp/dk/kol/17:37 hrs. 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Environment and Forests  

Unscientific proliferation of mobile phone towers has

 

DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON HOUSE SPARROW POPULATION.

New Delhi: August 14, 2009

 

Two studies have been carried out at two different places to study impact of electromagnetic impact on birds. Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies of Punjab University is currently doing a study on the impact of electromagnetic radiation on birds. Similarly, a short-term one-year study has been conducted by the Kerala Environmental Researchers Association indicating that unscientific proliferation of mobile phone towers has deleterious effects on house sparrow population. However, no published long-term research studies are yet available in the country, showing conclusively the adverse impacts of mobile phone towers on birds including sparrows, thus enabling the Government to develop strategy in this regard.

 

kp/dk/kol/17:37 hrs.