A group of 77 former civil servants has raised concerns over what it describes as the steady weakening of statutory safeguards for India’s forests, wildlife and environment.
In an open letter dated September 17, the Constitutional Conduct Group, comprising former members of the All India and Central Services, said large-scale diversion of forestland for development projects was causing increasing ecological risks. The group said it was non-partisan and committed to impartiality, neutrality and the Constitution of India.
Among the signatories were former Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, former Environment Secretary Meena Gupta, former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and former Delhi Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro.
According to figures cited in the letter from a July 2026 parliamentary reply, government approval was given for the diversion of about 215,943 hectares of forestland for non-forest use between 2014-15 and 2025-26. Nearly 62% of the diverted land was reportedly allocated to mining, hydropower, irrigation and road projects. The letter also noted that forest diversion increased from 74,705.68 hectares during 2014-15 to 2018-19 to 96,112.90 hectares during 2019-20 to 2023-24.
The former officials expressed particular concern over the Himalayan and northeastern states, while also pointing to proposals involving large areas of the Great Nicobar rainforest. They questioned the effectiveness of compensatory afforestation and cited the example of compensatory plantations proposed in Haryana for rainforest diversion in Great Nicobar.
The letter further highlighted the diversion of land within National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Eco-Sensitive Zones. It claimed that 97% of diversion proposals placed before the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife since 2014 had been cleared. The group said 5,824 hectares inside Protected Areas and Eco-Sensitive Zones were cleared for non-forest uses during four meetings in 2024 and 2025.
The signatories also criticised changes to forest legislation, saying the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023 had narrowed the definition of forests covered by legal protection. They raised concerns about the regularisation of projects that allegedly proceeded without mandatory forest clearances and argued that environmental impact assessments should take place before projects begin rather than after violations have occurred.
The group also referred to a July 2026 Supreme Court ruling concerning post-facto environmental clearances and argued that the decision could weaken the precautionary approach to environmental protection. The letter additionally cited proposals concerning the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and the use of part of Delhi’s Ridge for a parade ground as examples of what it views as growing pressure on protected and ecologically sensitive areas.
Acknowledging that infrastructure and development projects are necessary, the former civil servants said development should not compromise ecological security. They linked the protection of forests and wildlife to public well-being and referred to the constitutional principles of environmental protection, intergenerational equity and the right to life.
The group called on the government and judiciary to give greater priority to ecological security and the health and lives of citizens while pursuing development.
According to figures cited in the letter from a July 2026 parliamentary reply, government approval was given for the diversion of about 215,943 hectares of forestland for non-forest use between 2014-15 and 2025-26. Nearly 62% of the diverted land was reportedly allocated to mining, hydropower, irrigation and road projects. The letter also noted that forest diversion increased from 74,705.68 hectares during 2014-15 to 2018-19 to 96,112.90 hectares during 2019-20 to 2023-24.
The former officials expressed particular concern over the Himalayan and northeastern states, while also pointing to proposals involving large areas of the Great Nicobar rainforest. They questioned the effectiveness of compensatory afforestation and cited the example of compensatory plantations proposed in Haryana for rainforest diversion in Great Nicobar.
The letter further highlighted the diversion of land within National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Eco-Sensitive Zones. It claimed that 97% of diversion proposals placed before the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife since 2014 had been cleared. The group said 5,824 hectares inside Protected Areas and Eco-Sensitive Zones were cleared for non-forest uses during four meetings in 2024 and 2025.
The signatories also criticised changes to forest legislation, saying the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023 had narrowed the definition of forests covered by legal protection. They raised concerns about the regularisation of projects that allegedly proceeded without mandatory forest clearances and argued that environmental impact assessments should take place before projects begin rather than after violations have occurred.
The group also referred to a July 2026 Supreme Court ruling concerning post-facto environmental clearances and argued that the decision could weaken the precautionary approach to environmental protection. The letter additionally cited proposals concerning the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and the use of part of Delhi’s Ridge for a parade ground as examples of what it views as growing pressure on protected and ecologically sensitive areas.
Acknowledging that infrastructure and development projects are necessary, the former civil servants said development should not compromise ecological security. They linked the protection of forests and wildlife to public well-being and referred to the constitutional principles of environmental protection, intergenerational equity and the right to life.
The group called on the government and judiciary to give greater priority to ecological security and the health and lives of citizens while pursuing development.
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