Condemns central govt for passing forest conservation (amendment) bill
- 03 August 2023 :: North-East Forum for International Solidarity
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NEFIS CONDEMNS CENTRAL GOVT FOR PASSING ANTI-PEOPLE FOREST CONSERVATION (AMENDMENT) BILL!
ANTI-PEOPLE BILL TRAMPLES UPON THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE INTEREST OF THE CORPORATES AND BUSINESS HOUSES!
DEMANDS THAT THE BILL MUST BE IMMEDIATELY ROLLED BACK!
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) strongly condemns the central government for recently passing the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Parliament. The act is anti-people and rides roughshod over the rights of the communities living in or dependent on the forest areas in the interest of the corporates and business houses.
The Bill, it should be noted, creates the scope for large-scale conversion of forest land into non-forestry use while providing easy access to corporate houses. While the economic activities of the local population are sought to be curtailed, the Bill gives blanket exemptions to the existing stringent provisions of the FCA.
For instance, land situated within 100 km along the international borders, the Line of Control, or the Line of Actual Control is proposed to be used for the “construction of strategic linear projects of national importance and concerning national security”. This means a significant diversion of forest lands in the untouched areas of the Eastern Himalayas, which are rich in biodiversity and natural resources.
The North-East states share borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet, and China. The Bill is likely to affect nearly 90 percent of Nagaland’s territory, which lies within 100 kilometers of the international border, much of Arunachal and Assam; and the entire region of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura.
Moreover, the Forest Rights Act, 2006 which provides for the consent of the Scheduled Tribe and other traditional forest-dwelling communities before any diversification is made of the forest areas, will be superseded by the Bill when it becomes an Act. The Bill enables the forest land to be diversified and cleared for so-called developmental purposes without the prerequisite of obtaining the consent of the affected communities.
NEFIS strongly condemns the central government for passing the Bill and demands that it should be immediately rolled back. NEFIS would be intensifying movement against this anti-people Bill in the coming days.
Kishan Yumnam
Member
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
* This info was provided by North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) and can be contacted at nefis(DOT)delhi(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was posted on August 04 2023 .
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