MP Tops India In Forest Diversion, Accounts For Over 22% Of National Total In 10 Years
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Across 10 years from 2014–15 to 2023–24, Madhya Pradesh handed over 38,552.61 hectares of forest land for non-forestry development—more than any other state in India. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to Parliament, 173,396.87 hectares were approved for forest diversion nationally. Madhya Pradesh accounted for…
In the ten years from 2014-15 to 2023-24, Madhya Pradesh divested 38,552.61 hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes, surpassing all other Indian states in this regard. This accounts for 22.23% of the national forest diversion total, which stood at 173,396.87 hectares. Odisha and Telangana followed with 24,458.89 hectares and 11,422.47 hectares respectively.
These figures reflect statutory approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, though actual forest clearance may occur in phased projects. The Kanha-Pench and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay tiger corridors are particularly vulnerable to road and railway construction, as are the Shankargarh Hills in Dewas, where extensive mining has left a devastated landscape.
Remote-sensor studies reveal that stone quarrying near Indore has expanded significantly since 2000, degrading local hydrology and topography. Environmental clearances for this activity were granted as recently as May 2024. While compensatory afforestation aims to replace diverted forest, it cannot quickly mirror the unique qualities of the original forest or its biodiversity.
In Madhya Pradesh, mining and mineral extraction accounts for around 38% of the forest diversion, irrigation and dams 28%, roads and highways 18%, power transmission and solar 10%, and defense and public infrastructure 6%.
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