In the wilderness: Forest Bill defeats purpose of the law

Source: The post is based on the article “In the wilderness: Forest Bill defeats purpose of the law” published in Business standard on 1st August 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment

News: Last week, the Lok Sabha passed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which makes significant changes to the original law.

What are the major changes to the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill?

Renaming the law in Hindi: This might exclude non-Hindi speaking regions, especially the northeast.

Exemptions for Forest Land:

Alongside rail lines or public roads leading to habitation or amenities up to 1,000 sq. metres.

Within 100 km of international borders for “national importance” projects.

Up to 10 hectares for security-related infrastructure.

Up to 5 hectares in areas with left-wing extremism.

Land not marked as forest on government records after October 25, 1980.

Limiting the Act:

Only applies to land notified before October 25, 1980. This challenges the 1996 Supreme Court’s Godavarman judgment.

Definition Changes:

Includes man-made constructions like zoos, safari parks, and eco-tourism under forestry activities.

Power to Central Government:

The Bill gives more powers to the central government, even though forests were included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

What are the implications of this change?

Decreased Forest Cover: Exemptions can reduce India’s forest area.

Biodiversity at Risk: Relaxations threaten fragile ecosystems, like the Aravalli hills.

Indigenous Communities: Changes may infringe on the land and rights of these communities, especially in the northeast and central India.

Legal Conflicts: Limits challenge the 1996 Supreme Court’s Godavarman judgment.

Zoos and Parks: They aren’t natural forests but are now under forestry activities.

Tensions in Governance: More central government power could strain relations with states.