J&K Govt sets policy to tackle forest fires & speed up approvals

Srinagar, Mar 21: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it has a well-defined policy in place to prevent forest fires and expedite forest clearance for developmental projects.
In a reply to question tabled in assembly, the government dismissed concerns about the lack of concrete measures, stating that multiple initiatives, including the State Action Plan on Forest Fire (SAPFF) and the J&K Forest Policy of 2011, are actively being implemented to mitigate fire risks.
It also assured that the PARIVESH portal is streamlining the forest clearance process to ensure approvals are granted in a time-bound manner.
The government emphasised that forest fire prevention remains a top priority, with funding provided under the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) scheme and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Forest Fire Prevention and Management. State-Level Monitoring Committee has also been formed to oversee the implementation of fire control measures.
Providing data on forest fire incidents, the government said that Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1,253 fire incidents in 2022-23, affecting 2,774 hectares of forest land. In 2023-24, the number of fires dropped to 607, with 987 hectares impacted. However, in 2024-25 (up to March 19, 2025), 1,243 fires were reported, damaging 3,503 hectares.
The government said that most of these fires were ground or surface fires, mainly affecting grass and bushes rather than tall trees. Udhampur district saw 177 fires in 2022-23, 111 in 2024-25, impacting over 544 hectares of land.
On the issue of forest clearance for developmental projects, the government said that before the introduction of the PARIVESH portal, 1,690 projects had received clearance under the J&K Forest (Conservation) Act, 1997. Since August 2019, 2,743 proposals have been uploaded on the portal for clearance under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. Of these, 522 cases covering 636 hectares have received Stage-II approval, while 1,151 cases covering 1,453 hectares have been granted Stage-I approval. Meanwhile, 1,070 cases are still under review.
To ensure timely forest clearance, the government said it follows the guidelines set under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023. The PARIVESH system, launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, has helped in expediting the process by providing real-time tracking of applications.
The government also highlighted its commitment to compensatory afforestation and reforestation programs to balance ecological concerns with developmental needs.
Large-scale plantation drives are being carried out across various districts to restore forest cover. The government reiterated that forest conservation, fire prevention, and efficient clearance mechanisms will continue to be a priority to ensure sustainable environmental management in Jammu and Kashmir.