Settling forest rights a must now
Vedanta and POSCO may find going tough in Orissa
in a move likely to benefit tribal people and forest communities, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (moef) has made the law tougher for industries and government agencies that want to divert forestland for industrial and infrastructure projects. On August 4, the ministry issued an advisory to all the states saying such projects will be allowed only after the states settle the rights of forest dwellers under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. The law will be applicable to upcoming as well as pending projects.
Though the Act says no forest dweller can be evicted unless his occupancy is verified and recognized, things worked differently on the ground. The states invariably obtain clearances to divert forestland by merely stating rights of forest dwellers would be settled later; the ministry used to accept it. But now the ministry has put its foot down.