Do new conservation rules dilute Forest Rights Act? Congress, BJP hit out at each other- The New Indian Express https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/jul/10/do-new-conservation-rulesdiluteforest-rights-act-congress-bjp-hit-out-at-each-other-2475027.html
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the new rules have been promulgated to streamline the approval process, introduce the concept of collective decision making and address the dynamic changes in the ecological values of trees and forests. The new rules will allow parallel processing of the proposals and eliminate the redundant processes, he said.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the new rules issued recently allow forest rights to be settled after final approval for forest clearances has been granted by the Central Government. "Once forest clearance is granted, everything else becomes a mere formality and almost inevitably no claims will be recognised and settled. The state governments will be under even greater pressure from the Centre to accelerate the process of diversion of forest land," Ramesh said.
Ramesh said the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, known as the Forest Rights Act, 2006 is a historic and progressive law passed unanimously and enthusiastically by Parliament after extensive debate.
In August 2009, in order to ensure the fullest implementation of this law, the-then Ministry of Environment and Forests stipulated that no clearances for diversion of forest land under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 would even be considered by it unless rights provided under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 were first settled.
"This was done to protect and promote the interests of tribal and other communities traditionally living in forest areas," he said.
New Forest Conservation Rules Will Disempower Tribals: Congress (outlookindia.com)
< https://www.outlookindia.com/national/new-forest-conservation-rules-will-disempower-tribals-congress-news-208196 >
Ease Of Doing Business 'For Chosen Few': Cong Attacks Modi Govt Over New Rules 'Destroying' Forest Rights Act (abplive.com)
< https://news.abplive.com/news/india/congress-attacks-modi-govt-over-new-rules-destroying-forest-rights-act-says-ease-of-doing-business-for-chosen-few-1541775 >
Congress calls Modi ‘Adivasi Virodhi’ for changes in rules that ensures forest dwellers’ rights | Deccan Herald
< https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/congress-calls-modi-adivasi-virodhi-for-changes-in-rules-that-ensures-forest-dwellers-rights-1125392.html >