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Centre drops plan to bring in changes to Forest Act of 1927
Why in news?
- The Environment Ministry on 15 Nov withdrew a draft amendment that proposed updates to the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Activist groups and some State governments had protested against this proposed law after it was mooted in March.
More in news
- Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told at a press conference that the draft was withdrawn. “Let me clarify that this wasn’t a government draft as such. We had just consolidated views from various States with a significant forest cover. Over a few months, we’ve learnt that this has led to wrong interpretations. So we are withdrawing the zero draft.”
- The Indian Forest Act, 2019:
(1) was envisaged as an amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927,
(2) Was an attempt to address contemporary challenges to the country’s forests.
(3) The draft law had been sent to key forest officers in the States for comments and objections.
(4) It drew flak from activists as well as tribal welfare organisations.
(5) Last month, the Mizoram government rejected the draft.
- Key Provisions under the draft
(1) “Forest officer not below the rank of a Ranger shall have power to hold an inquiry into forest offences…and shall have the powers to search or issue a search warrant under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973…
(2) The legislation also proposed a forest development cess of up to 10% of the assessed value of mining products removed from forests, and water used for irrigation or in industries.
(3) This amount would be deposited in a special fund and used “exclusively for reforestation; forest protection; and other ancillary purposes connected with tree planting, forest development and conservation”.
Sources
The Hindu