Forest land in Naxal-affected states to be diverted for development

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given approval for the diversion of forest land for infrastructure-related projects for rapid development. These projects are under 14 categories relating to schools, dispensaries, hospitals, electrical and telecommunication lines, drinking water projects, water and rain harvesting structures, minor irrigation canals, non-conventional sources of energy, skill up-gradation and vocational training centres as well as rural roads. 

The general approval, which had earlier been for the diversion of up to five hectares of forest land, has been increased to 40 hectares. This is to further the Road Requirement Plan (RRP-I) scheme for improving road connectivity in LWE affected areas of eight states namely, Andhra Pradesh (now Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. 

The scheme envisages the construction of 5,362 km long roads and eight critical bridges at the estimated cost of Rs 786.73 billion.