The Forest Rights Act

Minister Jairam Ramesh reportedly "demurs" from committing to comply with law, suggests Coal Ministry can seek amendments to make mining easier

 

 Yesterday, a news report appeared in the Times of India which is a
source of deep concern. If it is correct, the government is not only
endorsing crimes against forest dwellers by its authorities, but
intends to legalise them. For the last year and a half, the Ministry
of Environment and Forests has been illegally granting clearance for
industries and other projects to use forest land. From January 1,
2008, the Forest Rights Act legally recognised that, for decades,
forest dwellers have been denied the right to their homes, lands and
traditional forests. It made the removal of forest dwellers or the
denial of their rights a criminal offence. The Ministry however has
continued to give clearances in brazen violation of the law, depriving
people and destroying forests in order to appease vested interests and
big business. Its only response to growing protest has been to
recently start including a brief reference to the Act in its clearance
letters, which should not be issued in the first place except in
accordance with the law.

The Campaign and several political leaders, including from the
Congress and the Left parties, have been consistently opposing this
illegal grabbing of resources. Two weeks ago, in a meeting with the
Campaign, the new Minister of State for Environment and Forests – Shri
Jairam Ramesh – had assured us that such illegal forest diversion
would be stopped. Yesterday's news report however says that the
Ministry not only “demurred” from committing to uphold the law, but
further suggested that the Coal Ministry may approach Parliament for
amendments if it found the law a hurdle in accessing mines. Any such
move would be a brazen violation of law and justice and a betrayal of
the UPA's claimed commitment to adivasis and forest dwellers. In
light of the assurance given to us earlier, we call upon Shri Ramesh
to clarify whether the government intends to comply with the law, and
that he act immediately to ensure compliance with the law and
punishment for those responsible for earlier crimes.

The news report is available at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Forest-Rights-Act-may-come-in-handy-to-stop-mining-in-green-areas/articleshow/4677574.cms

Campaign for Survival and Dignity