AGENDA NO.3 F. No. 8-41/2013-FC The State Government of Uttar Pradesh vide their letter No. 3427/14-2-2012- 800(45)/13 dated 30th April, 2013 submitted a fresh proposal seeking prior approval of the Central Government under Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 133.22 ha of Protected Forest land for upgradation of 2 lane road to 4 lane road with paved shoulders of NH-56 for Sultanpur-Varanasi Section in State of Uttar Pradesh by NHAI. The facts related to the proposal as contained in the State Government’s letter dated 30.04.2013 are given below in the form of factsheet: FACT SHEET 1. Name of the Proposal Diversion of 133.22 ha of Protected Forest land for upgradation of 2 lane road to 4 lane road with paved shoulders of NH-56 for Sultanpur- Varanasi Section in State of Uttar Pradesh by NHAI. 2. Location (i) State Uttar Pradesh (ii) District Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur and Varanasi. 3. Particulars of Forests: (i) Name of Forest Division and S.F. Sultanpur 35.01 ha Forest area involved. S.F. Pratapgarh 5.11 ha S.F. Jaunpur 45.81 ha Varanasi 47.2999 ha Total 133.22 ha (ii) Legal status/Sy.No. S.F. Sultanpur P.F. S.F. Pratapgarh PF S.F. Jaunpur P.F. Varanasi P.F. (iii) Map S.F. Sultanpur Ps. 196-205/c S.F. Pratapgarh - S.F. Jaunpur 206-220/c Varanasi Ps. 191-195 & 221-223/c 4. Density of vegetation S.F. Sultanpur 0.55 20 S.F. Pratapgarh 0.1 to 0.4 S.F. Jaunpur 0.1 Varanasi 0.01 5. Species-wise (scientific names) S.F. Sultanpur 5062 and diameter class-wise S.F. Pratapgarh 913 enumeration of trees (to be S.F. Jaunpur 9672 enclosed. In case of irrigation / Varanasi 5607 hydel projects enumeration at Total 21254 FRL, FRL-2 meter & FRL-4 meter also to be enclosed) 6. Brief note on vulnerability of the S.F. Sultanpur Not prone to forest area to erosion erosion. S.F. Pratapgarh Minimum S.F. Jaunpur Not prone to erosion. Varanasi Not prone to erosion. 7. Approximate distance of the S.F. Sultanpur Distance of Shahpur proposed site for diversion from RF is 5 km in the boundary of forest. South side of Km. 170 of NH S.F. Pratapgarh Within the P.F. S.F. Jaunpur Adjoining the boundary of PF Varanasi Proposed area is a part of PF. 8. Whether forms part of National No park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Corridor, etc. (if so, details of the area and comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden to be annexed) 9. Whether any rare/ No endangered/unique species of flora and fauna are found in the area. If so details thereof 10. Whether any protected No archaeological/ heritage site/defence establishment or any other important monuments is located in the area. 11. Whether the requirement of forest Yes land as proposed by the user agency in col. 2 of Part-I is unavoidable and barest minimum 21 for the project, if no recommended area item-wise with details of alternatives examined. 12. Whether any work of in violation No of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been carried out (Yes/No). If yes details of the same including period of work done, action taken on erring officials. Whether work in violation is still in progress. 13. Whether clearance under the Yes. Under submission for approval (p. Environment (protection) Act, 1/c) 1986 is required? 14. Compensatory Afforestation (i) Details of non-forest S.F. Distance of On area/degraded forest area Sultanpur Shahpur RF is both identified for CA, its distance 5 km in the sides from adjoining forest, number of South side of of patches, size of each patches. Km. 170 of road. NH S.F. CA land is -do- Pratapgarh proposed adjoining the proposed road S.F. Jaunpur Afforestation -do- of double the trees to be felled and one row of Brickguard will be done. Varanasi Not applicable -do- (ii) Map showing non-forest/ S.F. Sultanpur Attached degraded forest area identified S.F. Pratapgarh Attached for CA and adjoining forest S.F. Jaunpur Attached boundaries. Varanasi Attached (iii) Detailed CA scheme including S.F. Sultanpur Attached species to be planted, S.F. Pratapgarh Species of implementing agency, time Sheesam, schedule, cost structure, etc. Neem and Aam will be planted. S.F. Jaunpur Attached Varanasi Not 22 applicable (iv) Total financial outlay for CA S.F. Sultanpur Attached S.F. Pratapgarh 1,19,23,900/- S.F. Jaunpur 3217.18 lakhs Varanasi Not applicable (v) Certificate from the competent S.F. Sultanpur Not authority regarding suitability of applicable the area identified for CA and S.F. Pratapgarh Certificate from management point of view. attached S.F. Jaunpur Attached Varanasi Attached 15. Catchment Area Treatment NA 16. Rehabilitation of Oustees NA a) No of families involved Not needed b) Category of families Not needed c) Details of rehabilitation Not needed plan 17. Cost Benefit Ratio - 18. Total Cost of the Project Rs. 1435.93 crore 19. Recommendation i. DFO Recommended (p. 4, 7, 9, 12/c). ii. CCF Recommended (p. 13-16/c) iii. Nodal Officer Recommended (p.17/c ) iv SG Recommended (p. 18/c, ) 20. Division/ District profile (i) Total Geographical area of the S.F. Sultanpur 2174 Sq. Km. district S.F. Pratapgarh 3717 Sq. Km. S.F. Jaunpur 4021 Sq. Km. Varanasi 1526.74 Sq. Km. (ii) Total Forest area/Divisional S.F. Sultanpur 1.6% of the total Forest area area S.F. Pratapgarh 444.50 ha S.F. Jaunpur Nil Varanasi Nil (iii) Total area diverted S.F. Sultanpur 47.976 ha in 3 since 1980 cases S.F. Pratapgarh Chilbila forest block – 0.07 ha Madhukarpur forest block – 0.035 ha Power Grid 0.192 23 and 0.192 ha NHAI Raebrailly – 10.52 ha proposed. S.F. Jaunpur 53.910 ha in 3 cases Varanasi Nil (iv) Total compensatory afforestation stipulated in the district/division since 1980 on a) Forest land including penal S.F. Sultanpur - compensatory afforestation S.F. Pratapgarh - S.F. Jaunpur 6.37 ha Varanasi Nil b) Non-forest land S.F. Sultanpur 292.583 ha S.F. Pratapgarh - S.F. Jaunpur - Varanasi - (v) Progress of Compensatory Afforestation as on date a) Forest land S.F. Sultanpur -- S.F. Pratapgarh -- S.F. Jaunpur 5.15 ha Varanasi P.F. land – 7029 trees Other land – 4751 trees b) Non-forest land S.F. Sultanpur -- S.F. Pratapgarh -- S.F. Jaunpur NIl Varanasi Nil 21. Specific recommendations of the S.F. Sultanpur Recommended DCF for acceptance or otherwise S.F. Pratapgarh Recommended of the proposal with reasons S.F. Jaunpur Recommended Varanasi Recommended Remarks: 1. The details of the proposal are as under (p. 2/c):- Sl. District Chainage Length of Area Number of No. (Kms.) Bypass (in proposed trees to be Km) for felled diversion (ha) 1. Sultanpur 134.700 to 43.60 35.01 5062 24 178.300 2. Pratapgarh 178.300 to 05.29 05.11 913 183.59 3. Jaunpur 183.59 to 247.70 64.11 45.81 9672 4. Varanasi 247.70 to 279.70 32.00 47.29 5607 Total 145.00 133.22 21254 2. Joint Site inspection report attached as per pages below: Sl. Name of Forest Division Dated On pages No. 1. Sultanpur 20.04.2012 At page 19/c 2. Pratapgarh 11.11.2011 At page 39/c 3. Jaunpur 18.04.2012 At p. 55/c 4. Varanasi 05.06.2012 At p. 86/c 3. The user agency has given the following certificates/undertakings with the proposal: (i) Certificate regarding Schedule tribes and others traditional forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act, 2006 that there is no Tribal Group in the forest area (p. 168/c) which is not as per circular of the Ministry. (ii) The user agency has submitted undertaking for payment of cost of Compensatory Afforestation as well as cost of protection and regeneration of safety zones, etc. (p. 172/c). (iii) The user agency has given undertaking for payment of Net Present Value of Forest Area (p. 173/c). (iv) The user agency has given undertaking for no other feasible alternative & diversion of minimum forest land174/c). (v) The user agency has given undertaking to submit Environmental Clearance as is received from MoEF for environment clearance certificate (p.175/c). (vi) The user agency has given undertaking for payment of any other cost & condition (p. 176/c). (vii) The user agency has given undertaking that the felling of trees is necessary and there is no other option (p. 177/c). (viii) The user agency has given a certificate regarding the land suitability for Compensatory Afforestation (p. 179/c). (ix) Site inspection report by the user agency at p. 180/c. (x) The user agency has given a certificate regarding acceptance of all the conditions imposed by the State Government (ps. 181-182/c). (xi) The user agency has given a certificate regarding fulfilment of Laws & other of Government of India, State Government and U.P. Forest Department. (p. 87/c). (xii) The user agency has given an agreement that there will be no loss of forest and environment, widening of road will be as per stipulated standards, decisions 25 taken by the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh Government and Forest Department in the interest of Government and all other works will be completed as will be stipulated in the approval.