 "MP boasts of largest forest cover at 77,522 sq km")
Forest cover in Madhya Pradesh has increased by 1,509 sq km to 77,522 sq km. The forest cover in MP in 2005 was 76,013 sq km in 2005.
However, the forest land remained stagnant at 30.72%, state forest minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar informed the assembly today while replying to a question of a Congress member Shailendra Patel. He raised the issue that forest area was continuously shrinking due to illegal felling of forests.
State has 61,886 sq km of reserved forest and 31,098 sq km is protected forests. Most forests area is covered by teak forests at 18,332 sq km, Saal tree at 3,932 sq km, mixed and other forests are at 55,436 sq km besides 16,989 sq km is open area. Thus, the state has a total of 94,689 sq km under forest.
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Another member of Congress Govind Singh intervened and pointed out that forest cover, according to Forest Survey of India 2011, has been reported a decrease of 178 sq km. To which the minister said the Forest Survey of India 2011 had reported 77,700 sq km of forest cover but the report had 91.79% accuracy.
Later, the Forest Survey of India 2013 report came up with new data of forest cover and it stood at 77,522 sq km as the latest report had 91.4% accuracy, that was why there was a difference of 178 sq kilometer, he said and added that it was largest in India.
The state, according to the minister, had gradually increased its allocation for conservation of forests. It has reached Rs 409.24 lakh in 2013-14 from Rs 126.75 lakh in 2009-10. The allocation in 2012-13 was the highest at Rs 544.50 lakh and in 2011-12 it was Rs 500.02 lakh.
According to annual report of the state forest department tabled in the assembly 55,927 cases of illegal felling were registered in 2010, 55,699 cases in 2011, 33,495 cases in 2012 and 27,647 cases were registered during January 2013 to June 2013.
Similarly 1,141 cases of illegal mining in forest areas were registered in 2010, 1,014 in 2011, 745 in 2012 and 576 cases were registered during January 2013 to June 2013.