The new draft consultation paper on proposed amendments to Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA) which has floated by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) offering justifications for amendments proposed, is getting mixed reactions among environment experts and environmentalists country-wide. Suresh Chopane, Member, Regional Empowered Committee (REC), MoEF&CC and a well-known environment activist believes that proposed amendments in FCA are good but some points need to be improvised for better regulation of FCA. The clause about possibility of exemption from approval process for non-forestry use of forest land in case or border infrastructure projects, Chopane has stated, “The Ministry should come forward with a solution which balance the National Security with Environment on the same scale. Instead of diluting the FCA for border infrastructure projects, the Ministry should approve such projects under FCA on priority basis.”

 

Alongside many roads and railway lines, strip plantations have been developed and notified as forests. In many areas road/rail side amenities/habitation have been developed all along such lands. These facilities (both private and government) need access (approach roads/rail) and that invariably pass through the strip of notified forest area along the road/rail line. Since the activity is a non-forestry use of forest land, these require prior approval of Central Government. The requirement of forest land in each case is around 0.05 ha. Ministry is of the view that, an exemption up to 0.05 ha for each such accesses may be allowed to alleviate the hardship of the residents/business owners. Supporting the Ministry’s stand on this clause, Chopane said, “When a highway got constructed before the implementation of FCA and the strip forest have been developed post FCA then there is no justification to include it under FCA. The new amendment will help to reduce such hardships of residents and business owners.”

 

While talking about the clause of mining and exploration, Chopane said, “Mining and exploration work exploits the environment. Implementation of FCA for such exploration work is needed and Ministry should maintain the existing rules.” The draft consultation paper on proposed amendments to FCA will improve the existing scenario and ease the burden of stakeholders. But some of its clause must be changed to maintain and improve the environment, said Chopane. The required pace of tree plantation to keep the target in National Forest Policy, 1988 of achieving one-third area of the country under forest and tree cover attainable, is far from satisfactory.

 

The forest and tree cover of the country at present is around 24.56% of the geographical area and there is a practical limitation to increase forest cover. Therefore, more and more non-forest lands including land under private ownership are required to be brought under the tree cover for ecological, economic and environmental benefits. Supporting the clause, Chopane said, “Non-forest lands including land under private ownership are required to be brought under the tree cover for environmental benefits which will also help to land owners.” However, this process should be transparent and geotagging of trees on such plots, along with ownership details is must,” stated the member of MOEF&CC.