'Procedural lapses in declaring reserve forest'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 13 2021:
The Hill Areas Committee has concluded that there is evidence that the prescribed procedures and rules have been tweaked in declaring reserve and protected forest areas in the State, said a reliable source.
The source said the evidence came to light when no objection certificate was sought from the Forest Department for construction/reconstruction of a road from Yaingangpokpi to Jessami.
Elaborating, the source said the construction of the road was likely to affect some portion of the Yaingangpokpi forest and as such the no objection certificate (NOC) was sought.
It was when people of the area came to know from the Forest Department that the Yaingangpokpi forest had been declared a reserve forest on November 29, 1989 by the State Government.
The villages had no knowledge that the Yaingangpokpi forest had been declared a reserve forest until the NOC was sought from the Forest Department.
The source claimed that about 19 villages under Yaingangpokpi forest had objected when the Government initially approached them to declare the forest as a reserve area.
The villages then approached the Assembly Hill Area Committee with a complaint, and afterwards the committee sought relevant reports on the matter from the Principal Chief Conservator for Forest on December 30 last year.
The reports sought include the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Manipur Forest Rules 1971, year-wise list of reserve forest in the valley and hills, criteria for declaration of reserve forest area, any documents or recommendations from the Hill Areas Committee before declaration of reserve forest, any consent obtained/taken from villages/villagers concerned before declaration of reserve forest.
The HAC also sought a list of facilities or compensations if any, given to affected villagers by the Department of Forest.
The Principal Chief Conservator (Forest) then sent the reports to the Deputy Secretary (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on January 6 this year.
The report was then produced in the meeting of the Assembly HAC on March 11 .
The source continued that the HAC was created on January 29, 1972 and incorporated in the Manipur Legislative Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
Moreover, in scheduled matters, the Constitution is giving protection and power to the HAC under Article 371C Special Provision requiring its consent when declaring reserve forest in hill areas.
Also, regulating jhum cultivation and shifting cultivation lies with the HAC.
The meeting of the HAC yesterday concluded that there have been errors in the procedures for declaring forest reserve in hill areas after 1972 .
The HAC also resolved that its consent should be sought when declaring reserve forest, protected forest and wildlife sanctuaries in the State in future.
The HAC also decided to prepare maps of forest territories in conformity with the existing boundaries of the Revenue districts.
Opining that development in the hill districts is slow as they lack a law like the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act in the valley, the HAC also discussed the need for enacting a new law under Article 371 C for the hill districts, said the source.
Further, the source said that the HAC has submitted a report to the Government to revive the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act 1956 .
The Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act 1956 is lying defunct even after 64 years.
The Act has failed because the tribal customary laws it incorporates are not compatible with the actual customary laws in practice.
The HAC had formed a subcommittee and an experts committee to study the Act.
The committees had submitted their report to the HAC, which adopted it and then submitted the same to the Government.
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