Sylvan overhaul
the country's first forestry commission has taken shape. The Union ministry of environment and forests (mef) has announced the agenda and constitution of the panel.
The former Chief Justice of India, Justice B N Kirpal, will head the commission that has been set up to review, reform and strengthen the whole gamut of forest management issues in the country. Director-general (forests and wildlife) M K Sharma, environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, M K Ranjitsinh who was formerly in the mef, J S Singh of the Benares Hindu University and former chief secretary of Tamil Nadu A P Muthuswamy are the other members of the body. An additional director-general of the mef will be the panel's member-secretary. The key function of the body will be to assess the existing policy and legal framework, and its ecological, economic, scientific and social consequences (see: Down To Earth, Vol 11, No 14, December 15, 2002).
However, those familiar with the ways of the ministry remain pessimistic about the move. "I wonder whether this body will be any different from the umpteen commissions, which the government sets up,' says Sharad Lele, senior fellow and coordinator of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development, Bangalore. "Don't expect a ministry armed to the teeth with legislation upholding its strong centralised management to change its attitude,' says a senior forest officer. It remains to be seen whether or not the commission will be atypical.