Bhubaneswar: Odisha has witnessed a significant increase in its forest land by over 4,000 sq km in the last two decades, according to the latest report from the Forest Survey of India. Minister of State for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, shared this update in the Assembly today.
Responding to a query from BJP MLA Amarendra Das regarding the extent of Odisha’s forest cover over the past 20 years and its diversion for developmental projects, the Minister stated that the state had 48,366 sq km of forest land in 2003. As per the latest India State of Forest Report, the figure now stands at 52,433.56 sq km.
However, alongside this growth, around 39,084 hectares of forest land have been diverted for 427 development projects in the last two decades under the provisions of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 1980. The highest forest land diversion occurred in 2023, with 3,920 hectares used for 38 projects.
The Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India conducts satellite-based forest cover assessments every two years, offering insights into the changing landscape of Odisha’s green cover. While the increase in forest land is a positive sign, the diversion of forest areas for development remains a critical issue in balancing environmental conservation with infrastructure growth.
