Bengaluru: The proposed amendments made to the Indian Forest Act 1927 has angered environmentalists as they fear its large scale misuse.
One of the major issues is that the amendment supersedes the legal recognition provided to the other traditional forest dwellers in Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Former Indian Forest Service officer B.K. Singh commented that undue advantage of the FRA was taken by the political class which resulted in encroachments.
“When FRA came in 2006 and rules were made in 2008, massive deforestation took place in many states for claiming titles on forest land. After clearing the jungle the debris was set on fire, which released more and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributing to global warming. This Act has already done enough damage in terms of loss of tree cover and consequent global warming,” Singh said.
It is believed that the Act was framed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, but with little inputs from the environment ministry.
