India, Jan. 27 -- India's paper and pulp industry has welcomed recent amendment allowing plantations on forest land

Manufacturers say chronic wood shortages and rising imports have left domestic mills under strain

The changes remove long-standing environmental levies for certain plantation activities

Industry leaders argue the move could revive underutilised capacity and align with greening targets

India's paper and pulp industry has been lobbying since 1970s to secure regulatory changes allowing plantations on forest land, a move that could provide relief to the struggling industry by reducing import dependence and reviving underutilised mills.

On January 6, 2026, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&C...