Parliament: Over 30 Lakh Trees cut for Development Projects in 2020-21, None in Delhi, Says Govt

New Delhi: Nearly 31 lakh trees were cut down for construction and development of public infrastructure projects across India in 2020-21, but not a single tree was felled in the national capital, the Centre said on Monday.

Responding to a query raised in the Lok Sabha, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said as many as 30,97,721 trees were felled with approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act and Rs 359 crore was spent on compensatory afforestation in 2020-21.

"The permission for tree felling is accorded by the respective state governments/ union territory administrations under the provisions of various Acts, rules, guidelines and directions of courts. However, during 2020-21, proposals involving 30,97,721 number of trees have been accorded prior approval under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 by the ministry," Yadav said in a written statement.

He also said approval of diversion proposals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is a continuous process and that the states and UTs are required to carry out compensatory afforestation in lieu of forest areas allowed to be diverted for non-forestry use.

The minister apprised the House that for the 30.97 lakh trees felled, over 3.6 crore seedlings were planted as part of compensatory afforestation during that year for which Rs 358.87 crore was spent by the government.

The minister said not a single tree was cut down for developmental projects in Delhi during 2020-21 but over 53,000 seedlings were planted under the compensatory afforestation scheme for which Rs 97 lakh was spent.

As per the data shared by the minister, the maximum number of trees were cut down in Madhya Pradesh (16,40,532), followed by Uttar Pradesh (3,11,998) and Odisha (2,23,375).

However, the maximum amount of money spent for afforestation was by Gujarat (Rs 52 crore), followed by Uttarakhand (Rs 48.2 crore).

Of 1,657 arsenic-affected habitations, water purification plants in 489: Govt

Of 1,657 arsenic-affected habitations in the country, community water purification plants have been installed in 489, the government said on Monday.

Responding to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel said states and Union territories have been advised to install community water purification plants especially in arsenic and fluoride-affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8-10 litres per capita per day.

According to data shared by him, 37 districts in six states and Union territories are arsenic-affected.

There are 1,657 arsenic-affected habitations in these 37 districts, and community water purification plants have been installed in 489 of them, it showed.

Among the states, West Bengal has the highest number of 946 arsenic-affected habitations, followed by Punjab with 560 and Uttar Pradesh 107.

Recruitment in Army Suspended for COVD, not Stopped: Govt

Recruitment in the Indian Army has remained suspended mainly to curb the spread of COVID-19 and the government has not stopped it, Parliament was informed on Monday.

"Coronavirus infections have slowed down but it is not over yet. Big crowds come for recruitment in the Indian Army. Big (recruitment) fairs are organised for the purpose.

"Therefore we have suspended (the recruitment process in Army) so that the virus does not spread. We have not stopped it," said Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt while replying to a supplementary to a starred question in Rajya Sabha.

According to the written reply tabled in the House, after the pandemic hit India in 2020, the recruitment in India Army remained suspended during 2020-21 and 2021-22.

However, according to the reply, 2,722 persons were enrolled in the Indian Navy and 8,423 person in the Indian Air Force in 2020-21.

Similarly, 5,547 persons were enrolled in the Indian Navy and 4,609 in the IAF in 2021-22.

In 2018-19, 53,431 candidates were enrolled in the Indian Army while the number was 80,572 in 2019-20.

Banks Recover Rs 61,000 cr via One-Time Loan Settlement

As many as 11 banks have recovered nearly Rs 61,000 crore by way of one-time settlement in nearly four financial years, the government informed Parliament on Monday.

The figures are for the last three financial years and up to December 2021 of the current fiscal.

As per instructions of the Reserve Bank, banks are required to have a board-approved loan recovery policy, which may cover negotiated settlements through compromise, including one-time settlement (OTS) under which recovery in non-performing assets (NPA) loan accounts are to be effected to the maximum extent possible at minimum expense, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written a reply to the Lok Sabha.

He said the intent of such measures is to help banks promptly recycle their funds with advantage.

"All nationalised banks have board-approved loan recovery policy in place. As per input received from the 11 nationalised banks, OTS was approved in 38,23,432 cases during the last three financial years. Further, the aggregate amount of Rs 60,940 crore has been recovered through OTS by these nationalised banks during the last three financial years and up to December 2021 of the current financial year," Karad said.

These 11 banks are, Punjab National Bank recorded the highest number of OTS at 8.87 lakh, followed by Bank of India 4.97 lakh; Bank of Baroda 4.34 lakh; Indian Bank 4.27 lakh; Canara Bank 4.18 lakh; and Central Bank of India 4.02 lakh.

The others are Union Bank of India 2.99 lakh; UCO Bank 2.38 lakh; Indian Overseas Bank 1.33 lakh; Bank of Maharashtra 63,202 and Punjab & Sind Bank 20,607.