Centre may tweak forest laws in Naxal-hit states

NEW DELHI: As part of its efforts to streamline environment issues in a realistic manner to assist development in Naxal-affected areas, the Centre will change some rules in the Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation Act to step up economic activities in worst affected states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

"Left-wing extremism districts need to have separate criteria for development and environment protection," environment minister Prakash Javadekar said.

His remarks came after his meeting with Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Tuesday where he is learnt to have assured the state to wait for a comprehensive policy which will take care of development goals of Naxal-affected states.


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Officials privy to the discussion hinted at some changes which will be different for coastal states, Naxal region having rich forest cover, northeast states and the rest of the country.





The changes may include extending the limit of diversion of forest area in Naxal-affected Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts for development work and providing exemptions to certain projects, including restricted mining, under the existing laws.

At present, states in the Maoist belt have rights to give clearance to minor projects up to five hectares of forest land. BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh has long been demanding extending the limit up to 40 hectares under the Forest Conservation Act.


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It is expected that other states may also get power to issue forest clearance for areas up to 10 hectares of forest land.

"States with higher forest cover should not be penalized. They should be benefitted for their environment protection efforts," said Javadekar.

Indicating the change in approach, the minister had tweeted after his meeting with the Chhattisgarh CM on Tuesday, "We are not for 'We vs they' for Centre-state issues. We consider 'we are family' for development and environment protection."

In a clear signal that the government would not hesitate to bring amendments in the existing set of green laws, he said, "We should evolve a mechanism to ensure that Centre's guidelines for environment protection are implemented properly."

It is learnt that the ministry may also move a proposal to release compensatory afforestation funds to states so that it can be utilized to increase forest cover.

"The government is keen on exploring an option for reclamation and afforestation of degraded land," tweeted Javadekar who is likely to elaborate further on this and many other issues concerning environment and forest clearances during a formal briefing on Thursday.