Proposed changes to Forest Conservation Act a larceny of village resources https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/forests/proposed-changes-to-forest-conservation-act-a-larceny-of-village-resources-79654 Satyam Shrivastava 12 October 2021
Proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, are a blunder arising out of ignorance towards constitutionally and legally-bound procedures and limitations. The proposed changes to the Forest Rights Act, 1980, are an attempt by the Narendra Modi-led Union government towards providing ‘Ease of doing Business’ to its cronies
It is effectively reiterating through these proposed amendments that this step is aimed at providing exemptions to businesses in the garb of ‘development’.
It treats an industrialist and a local tribal equally.
If a village wants to develop some infrastructure on its forest land and an industrialist wants to establish an industrial plant or mine the land, both have to seek approval for non-forest use of forest land and follow the same procedure.