The mystery of missing forest

1.9 lakh hectares - that's the size of a small state - of forest land in Maharashtra has gone missing. Forest minister has no clue where all those forests have disappeared... The state has lost over 1.9 lakh hectares of forest land. Areas that were forests less than 15 years ago have little sign of green cover today, and the State government is now looking at face-saving options. State Forests Minister Patangrao Kadam puts down the problem to " miscalculation", but environmentalists fear the worst. The problem was realised in April, and all efforts were made to ensure the matter didn't become public knowledge. However, an MLA got hold of a recent report submitted by the Forest Development Board, and the matter of shrinking forests is expected to be raised in the State Assembly in the next few days. Forest Department officials are admitting that encroachment, Naxal trouble, and industrialisation are killing Maharashtra's forests. In 1995, a Forest Department survey said a total of 63,842,00 hectares of forest land was in possession of Forest Development Board and State Revenue Department. In April, Forest Development Board in its report said that it held 5,949,000 hectares of land, which was 7,02,00 hectares more compared to the 1995 survey. The report said Revenue Department, which held 5,055,00 hectares of forest land in 1995, now controls only 2,449,00 hectares. Together, the two departments control 6,193,900 hectares of forest. There is no account of the 19,03,300 hectares that were marked as forests in 1995. Patangrao Kadam said, "There could be a problem in calculation between Forest Development Board and Revenue Department. Officials are looking into it. But I can't answer such questions over the phone. But if they are raised in the Assembly, I will reply." Forest Department officials admitted there was large-scale encroachment. A Forest Department official said, "There is intense rivalry between Forest and Revenue departments. We have seen that in areas such as Chandrapur, Melghat and Gadchiroli, and in Thane, where forest land was lost due to fighting between the two departments. Many such land disputes are pending in various courts. In other areas, tribals and Naxals encroach upon forest land, and we just have to forget about it." Officials said the government's emphasis on industrial revenue has played its part as well. A Revenue Department official said, "Over the past few years, around two lakh hectares of forest land has been allotted to Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation." Environmentalists question the will of the State to conserve forests, saying there is more to gain by "selling" land rather than preserving it. Debi Goenka, head of Bombay Environment Action Group said: "I'm not surprised one bit that so much forest has been lost. The State Forest Department is non-functional, there is no will; hence there is no effort to save green covers. You will hear more such problems."