Government of India Ministry of Environment & Forests

Northern Regional Office Bays No.24-25,

Dakshin :t\'larg Sector-31A. Chandigarh-16003

F.No.: 9-PBC329/2017-CHA Dated: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 To

Principal Secretary (Forests), Government of Punjab, Department of Forests, Mini Secretariat, Sector-9, Chandigarh

Sub: Diversion of 14.44 ha of forest area in favour of PWD B&R Central Works Division No.2 Bathinda for Up-gradation of Maur-Raman road from village Maur (from Maur ROB) to Talwandi Sabo KIn. 105.890 to 124.825 B/s under Forest Division and District Bathinda, Punjab

Ref: (i) Government of Punjab letter No.FCA/l980j28j2017j9589 dated 17.02.2017 and letter No.FCA/l980j28j20l7/586 dated 03.05.2017 and onlitle proposal No. FPjPBjRoadj20020j2016.

(ti) Minutes of the meeting of Regional Empowered Committee dated 18.05.2017. Sir,

Please refer to the above cited subject and letters seeking prior approval of d.e Centra.! Government for diversion of forest land for non-forestr:y purpose in accordance v:ith section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

2. After careful examination of the proposal of the State Government aJ1d approval of t..lte Regional Empowered Committee, In-principle approval is hereby conveyed for divers ton of 14.44 hectares of forest land for the above mentioned project, subject to ilie following conditions:

i) Cost of compensatory afforestation a,s per CA scheme will be realized from Ll'1e user agency;

ti) Cost of additional compensatory afforestation as per addl. CA scheme will be realized from the user agency

iii) Net Present Value (NPV) of the forest land being diverted for non-forestry purpose may be realized from the user agency, as per Ministry's directions issued vide letters No. 5-3j2007-FC dated 5th February 2009 and Hon'ble Supreme Court of India"s Order dated 30th October 2002, 28th March, 2008, 24th April, 2008 and 9th May 2008;

iv) The User Agency shall deposit payments only on Ministry of Em'ironment, Forest aIle Climate Change web portal httpj j forestsc1earance.nic.in OR httpj /efc1earal'1.ce.nic.Ln;

v) All the funds received from the user agency under the project, except the fU:lds realized for regeneration/demarcation of safety zone, shall be traI1sferred to Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning AutJlOrity (CAMPA) in Saving Account pertaining to the State concerned;

3. The following conditions shall also be complied with after the final apprO\'a! is accorded:

i. Legal status of the forest land \vill remain unchanged. ii. Efforts should be made to fell minimum number of trees and in any case not

more than 5,192 trees, 297 poles and 7400 plants. iii. The CA and addl. CA will be carried out over 44.274 ha forest lcu"'1d as per the CA

scheme and the funds will be provided by the user agency, The plantation will be done within one year from the date of issue of this letter.

IV. The trees should be felled under strict supervision 0: the State Forest Depart.rnem; v. The forest land will not be used for any other purpose u~an that mentioned in the

proposal;

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-2­\i. The layout plan of the proposal shall not be changed without the prior approval

of the Central Government: \ii. The forest land proposed' to be diverted shall, under no circumstances, be

transferred to any other agency, department, or person without approval of the Central Go\"ernment:

\'iii. The user agency shall' raise strip plantation on both sides and central verge of the road at the project cost as per IRC specifications with maintenance of seven to ten years;

Lx. No damage \'Iill be done to the adjoining forest land; x. No labour camp shall be established on the forest land; xi. The user agency shall pay additional amount of NPV as and when increased on the

order of Hon ''ole Supreme Court; xii. The user agency shall carry out muck disposal at pre-designated sites in such a

manner so as to a\'oid its rolling down and should be taken up as per the scheme approved by the Forest Department;

xiii. The soil conservation measures if required, should be taken up by the user agency for which fund should be provided as per the current rate of works;

xn-. The Cser Agency shall p:-ovide firewood preferably alternate fuels to the labourers and the staff worki.!"1g at the site so as to avoid any damage and pressure on the nearby forest areas;

Xy. The boundary of the forest land being diverted shall be demarcated on ground at the project cost, using four feet high RCC pillars, each pillar inscribed with the serial number, DGPS coordinates, forward and backward bearings and distance from pillar to pillar etc.; .

:->'Ti. The Cser Agency shall ensure that because of this project, no damage is caused to the flora and the 1Nildlife ava]able in the area;

X\ii. The user agency ,\"iU assist the State Government in conservation and preservation of flora and fauna of the area in accordance with the plan prepared by the Chief \Vildlife Warden of the State.

XYlll. A.ny other condition that this Regional Office may stipulate, from time to time, in the interest of conservation, protection and development of forests & wildlife;

XLX. The User agency shall submit the annual self compliance report in respect of the above conditions to the State Government and to the concerned Regional Office of the Minisu~' regularly; and

xx. It will be the responsibility of the State Government/User Agency to obtain all other prior appro\'als/clearances under all other relevant Acts/Rules/ Court's Rulings/instructions, etc., including environmental clearance, if applicable to this proposal.

4. After receipt of the compliance report on fulfll1ment of the conditions under para-2, above, fmal approval order shall be given under Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The use of forest land will not be allowed till final approval is accorded.

5. The approval is subject to under Hon'ble NGT final decision of O.A. No. 161/2016 and 162/2016.

.12~O~1~)1 Add!. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (

COP}' 0:­1. The ADGF (FC), Ministry of Environment & Forests, Indra Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor

Bagh, Aliganj, New Delhi. 2. The Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Complex, Sector-68, Ajitgarh, Punjab. 3. The Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Division and District Bathinda, Punjab. 4. Executive Engineer, Central Works Division No.2, PWD B&R Bathinda.