SRINAGAR: About 12030.49 hectares of forest land had been under encroachment while 11924 hectares land has been diverted to non-forestry purpose in Jammu and Kashmir, where out of total geographical area 19.95 per cent is forest.
Admitting that forest cover is shrinking, Minister for Forest Choudhary Lal Singh informed the Legislative Assembly today in reply to a question by Shati Raj Parjhar that it was due to degradation of demarcated forests, cause by various biotic pressures including human beings.
He said out of the total geographical area within the Line of Control (LoC), the demarcated forest constitutes 20,230 sq km.
The reply said that 11924 hectares of forest land has been diverted for non forestry purposes under the J&K Forest (Conversation) Act 1997 for developmental purposes. This, he said caused reduction of forest cover in the State.
Total 12,030.49 hectares of demarcated forest land was under encroachment at present in the State, the Minister added. (AGENCIES)
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