Gujarat : Industries allotted 180 hectares of forest land to thrive

Surat/Gandhinagar : The Gujarat government is not only donating Gauchar land (grazing land) to industries, but also hundreds of hectares of forest land, allowing Gujarat’s industries to thrive. In a shocking revelation, the Gujarat government allotted approximately 180 hectares of forest land to industrialists.

In response to a question from Leader of opposition Amit Chavda in Gujarat Assembly, Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel stated that the department received approximately 21 proposals from industries for acquiring forest land in 2021. These industrialists were given a total of 172.72 hectares of forest land.

Similarly, approximately 7.3 hectares of forest land were allotted in 2022 in response to the 96 proposals from industries.

The Forest Environment Department defended the forest land allotments in Gujarat, stating that the forest land was allocated in accordance with the revised Allocation of Business Rules-1961 issued by the Government of India on January 31, 2017. By allocating forest lands to industries, the state government raised Rs 78.71 crore.

Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has encroached on 93.67 hectares of Forest Department land in the Surat district of Hazira.

The Forest Department responded that ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) had illegally encroached on forest land since 2006-07 by constructing structures, roads, gardens, and townships. So far, the forest department has only removed encroachment from 7.18 hectares.