Encroachment on Mangrove Forests

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Conservation and  Management of Mangroves, 100% central assistance is extended to Coastal States/UTs, who so request, for implementation of their approved Management Action Plans (MAPs). The latter comprise components such as Survey and Demarcation, Afforestation & Restoration of Mangroves, Alternate and Supplementary Livelihoods, Protection Measures, and Education & Awareness.

Under the Scheme, during last three years, a sum of approximately Rs.1272lakhs have been given to coastal states in the eastern coast for implementation of their approved MAPs for conservation and management of mangroves. No specific demand has been received from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh during the current financial year for conservation and management of mangroves.

The concerned State Governments and their forest departments in the eastern coast region are taking necessary precautions to avoid encroachments and destruction of the mangrove forests. Wildlife sanctuaries have been notified to conserve mangrove forests in Krishna and Godavari estuaries.

The State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and TamilNadu have been contacted and according to them the concerned district level officers involving departments of forest, revenue and police are taking steps regularly to evict unauthorized land grabbers from mangrove forest areas. In Orissaupto 21.07.2010, 1322 ha. of mangrove area have been evicted from land grabbers in Rajnagar (Wildlife) Division and Balasore (Wildlife) Division and out of that 1286 ha. of area have been covered under mangrove plantation.  

                                                                                            

Also, according to Forest Survey of India, the mangrove area of the Eastern coast States during the previous three cycles of assessments as published in the recent India State of Forest Report (2009) is reproduced below:

               (Area in km²)

S. No.	States/UTs	Assessment years
		2003	2005	2007
1.	Andhra Pradesh	329	354	353
2.	Orissa	203	217	221
3.	Tamil Nadu	35	36	39
4.	West Bengal	2120	2136	2152

As would be noted, there has generally been a net increase in mangrove forest cover on the east coast of India.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shrimati J. Shantha in Lok Sabha today.