Compendium of Forest (Conservation Act), 1980; the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003; GOI guidelines & clarifications
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 had been enacted by the Government of India on October 25, 1980 through an Act of Parliament. Since then, a lot of development has taken place by way of framing of Forest Conservation Rules and issue of Guidelines from time to time. The GOI has come out with a compilation of the Act, Rules and Guidelines, first, in the year 1992. Subsequently, after a gap of more than a decade, the Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI came out with a Handbook in June 2004, on Forest Conservation Act, 1980, Forest Conservation Rules 2003, Guidelines and Clarification from FC Act. Later, many more amendments to the Act, Rules and Guidelines have been made by the Government of India and many clarifications issued, specially in the wake of PESA & ROFR Act, constitution of CAMPA on the directions of the Supreme Court of India, launch of e-Green Watch and emphasis on the digitisation of Forest Boundaries and more so in case of the Forest lands diverted and nonforests lands taken over towards Compensatory Afforestation and mandatory uploading of the new proposals on the portal specially developed for it. However, no comprehensive handbook has been brought out by the GOI covering all these aspects. Therefore, a need was felt for compilation of the Act, Rules, Guidelines and clarifications issued on various subjects by the Govt. of India. In addition to the above, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has also issued orders connected to the above subjects and the office of PCCF has also issued Circular instructions to the field officers from time to time. Hence, it was decided to bring out a Compendium duly compiling all the above changes and information; so as to serve as a Ready Reckoner for the Forest Officers, User Agencies and the Public in general.