Forcible eviction of forest dwellers denied

Bhopal, July 20(UNI) Denying forcible eviction of forest dwellers, Forest Minister Himmat Kothari today told the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that those settled on forest land could not be granted ownership rights following the ban imposed by the Centre and the Supreme Court.

Replying to a special debate on the situation arising out of eviction of occupants from both forest and revenue lands, Mr Kothari said the state government had sought the Centre's permission to grant ownership rights to 67,000 people who had encroached upon forest land prior to 1980. But the permission was yet to be granted.

He said the then NDA government had made efforts to grant title deeds to those who had settled on forest land till 1993, but the Supreme Court ban came in the way.

Mr Kothari sought the opposition help in getting Centre's clearance for speeding up granting ownership rights. He refuted the opposition charge that tribals were being prevented from collecting minor forest produce like tendu(bidi) leaves, lac, chironji and mahua and said the ban was in force only national parks and sanctuaries.

Admitting that the tribals were facing problems due to differences between Forest and Revenue departments, he said Collectors were asked to sort out the issue. He said certain organisations were abetting encroachment on forest land and allowing spurt in naxalite activities. The government was taking action against them.

Eco Tourism Board was set up in the state to create job opportunities to the tribals, he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi sought Mr Kothari's resignation holding him responsible for forcible eviction of a large number of forest dwellers. She alleged that mining lease was being granted on forest land after evicting the tribals.

The opposition members expressed serious concern over forcible eviction of forest dwellers and sought clear demarcation of forest and revenue lands to bestow title deeds to the occupants.

Eds: Pick up suitably from BL 11 Assembly-MP-forest dwellers.

UNI AG-SP 1746