Why in News?

• The Union Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC)—the body responsible for evaluating proposals for diversion of forest land—has given certain recommendations.
• The FAC has recommended uniformity and rationalisation in the penal provisions applied under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 (formerly Forest Conservation Act, 1980).
• This step aims to ensure consistency, fairness, and proportionality in penal actions related to forest land violations.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Understanding the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980
• Penal Compensatory Afforestation (CA) - Concept and Evolution
• Introduction of Penal Net Present Value (NPV)
• FAC Recommendations
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Understanding the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980:

• The Act mandates prior approval of the Central Government before using forest land for non-forest purposes, including -
  • De-reservation of forests
  • Non-forest use or leasing of forest land
  • Clear felling of trees
• Violation occurs when these activities are undertaken without prior approval.

Penal Compensatory Afforestation (CA) - Concept and Evolution:

• Definition:
  • Penal CA involves restoration or afforestation activities ordered in addition to the legally mandated CA for non-forestry uses such as infrastructure or industrial projects.
  • It acts as a punitive restoration measure to offset ecological loss due to unauthorized forest land use.
• Earlier practice:
  • Penal CA was earlier imposed equivalent to twice the violated forest area, especially when no other monetary penalties existed.
  • However, after the introduction of monetary penalties and penal Net Present Value (NPV) guidelines, the practice became inconsistent and case-specific.

Introduction of Penal Net Present Value (NPV):

• Concept:
  • NPV quantifies the economic worth of environmental services provided by forest ecosystems.
  • Under the Van Adhiniyam Rules 2023, penal NPV (up to five times the standard NPV) can be levied for violations.
  • This system emerged from Supreme Court directions (2017) that aimed to strengthen environmental accountability.
• Need for rationalisation:
  • The FAC noted overlapping provisions of penal CA and penal NPV, leading to inconsistent enforcement.
  • It therefore recommended rationalising both measures to ensure uniformity and proportionality across cases.

FAC Recommendations:

• Uniform penal structure:
  • Charge penal compensatory afforestation equivalent to the violated forest land area (1:1 ratio).
  • Ensure alignment between penal CA and penal NPV mechanisms.
• Detailed violation reporting: States must submit detailed reports to the regional offices or ministry headquarters, including the nature of violation, officials responsible for approval or negligence, and action taken under the Act.
• Committee formation: A dedicated committee of regional officers and FAC members was constituted to -
  • Examine past violations
  • Recommend uniform penalty structures
  • Submit a consolidated report
• Integration with 2023 Amendments: The recommendations are in sync with the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, which introduced streamlined and consolidated guidelines for forest diversion and penal actions.

Way Forward:

• Codify uniform penalty guidelines to eliminate ambiguity and ensure proportional punishment.
• Integrate digital monitoring and reporting systems to track forest land violations in real time.
• Enhance inter-agency coordination between the FAC, regional offices, and state forest departments.
• Capacity building of enforcement officials to ensure accurate assessment of violations and penalty computation.

Conclusion:

• The FAC’s recommendations signify a shift towards transparent, consistent, and scientifically grounded enforcement under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
• By rationalising penal compensatory afforestation and NPV provisions, India seeks to balance developmental needs with ecological integrity, ensuring that forest conservation remains central to environmental governance.