The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) recently issued fresh guidelines to the state government on diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980. However, senior officials told TOI this stipulation is strictly restricted to relocation/rehabilitation of villages from national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves.
Officials said now the diverted forest land will get revenue land status. The decision follows after several representations to the MoEF from states and union territories stating that the clause 'legal status of forest land shall remain unchanged' precludes possibility of relocated villages, who are by and large tribals, from becoming absolute owners of the land allotted to them and by retaining the status of land as 'forests'.
Officials said the common complaint was that several ongoing developmental works in the district are not implemented in the area which deprive the relocated people of their due benefits. After careful examination of the issue, the matter was taken up with the Supreme Court's central-empowerment committee (CEC).
The CEC recommended to the Supreme Court for relaxation of its order on November 13, 2000 in a writ petition (337/1995), to permit MoEF to allow change in the legal status of the forest land approved for diversion under the FCA 1980, for relocation of villages from the national parks/sanctuaries.
Officials said now the diverted forest land will get revenue land status. The decision follows after several representations to the MoEF from states and union territories stating that the clause 'legal status of forest land shall remain unchanged' precludes possibility of relocated villages, who are by and large tribals, from becoming absolute owners of the land allotted to them and by retaining the status of land as 'forests'.
Officials said the common complaint was that several ongoing developmental works in the district are not implemented in the area which deprive the relocated people of their due benefits. After careful examination of the issue, the matter was taken up with the Supreme Court's central-empowerment committee (CEC).
The CEC recommended to the Supreme Court for relaxation of its order on November 13, 2000 in a writ petition (337/1995), to permit MoEF to allow change in the legal status of the forest land approved for diversion under the FCA 1980, for relocation of villages from the national parks/sanctuaries.
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