Environment related crimes down 11% in 2015:

Environment related crimes in the country came down by over 11% last year compared to 2014
The number of green crimes in 2015 came down to 5,156 from 5,835 in 2014
No decline in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Assam
NEW DELHI: Environment related crimes in the country came down by over 11% last year compared to 2014 but there was no decline in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Assam where the number of such violations increased over the past year.
According to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Tuesday, the number of green crimes in 2015 came down to 5,156 from 5,835 in 2014. Rajasthan contributed in large measure to the decrease with the number of green violations coming down substantially from 2,927 in 2014 to 2,074 last year. However, despite the improvement, the state still reported the highest number of such violations in the country.
In contrast, the number of green crimes in Uttar Pradesh increased from 1,597 in 2014 to 1,779 last year.
Rajasthan and UP together accounted for nearly 74% of green crimes in the country last year.
Analysis of the NCRB data showed that nearly 77% of the crimes were related to violations of the Indian Forest Act where the offenders were booked for illegally cutting trees in forest areas, encroaching upon forest land and moving forest produce without required permission.
This is only the second time when the NCRB has come out with data on green crimes. The first such figures were released last year, giving details of violations in 2014.
The number of green crimes also increased in Jharkhand from 148 in 2014 to 233 last year. Similarly, it increased in Assam from 83 to 105 and in Uttarakhand from 40 to 55.
The number of people arrested for green crimes is also quite high. Of the 8,034 people arrested (8,011 men and 23 women), 6,335 were put behind bars for violating the Indian Forest Act. Though the NCRB report was silent on the status of those arrested, it is believed that most of them got bail.
Nearly 66% of those arrested were from Uttar Pradesh (2,966) and Rajasthan (2,361). Andhra Pradesh was third in terms of people arrested (1,095), followed by Karnataka (321), Maharashtra (244) and Himachal Pradesh (224).
The green laws under which violators are booked include Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.


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