Interests of tribals will be protected : Munsi

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi today assured the Lok Sabha that the interests of the tribals would be protected.

Intervening during zero hour, he said the Tribal Land Bill was introduced in Parliament and it was now before the Joint Parliament Committee.

''The committee is yet to give its recommendations. Earlier, a Group of Ministers had gone into the issue,'' he said, adding that the intention of the government was ''not to uproot any tribal family.'' Mr Dasmunsi said the government would, at the same time, ensure that every inch of forest land was protected.

Earlier, CPI(M)'s Varkala Radhakrishnan alleged that a large-scale encroachment of forest land had been going on.

He said the Forest Act should be implemented strictly to put an end to encroachment of forest land to save the environment and wildlife.

UNI SH VD HS1331