Explained: What Is Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill?

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved a contentious amendment to the Forest Conservation Act, which involves exempting certain categories of land from the law's provisions.

The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill had previously been passed in the Lok Sabha (the lower house) on July 26 without any changes, following clearance by a parliamentary joint committee.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

Exemption of Specific Forest Land: The Bill amends the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 to exclude certain forest lands from its purview. These include:

a) Forest land located within 100 kilometers along international borders.
b) Land up to 0.10 hectares alongside rail tracks or public roads.
c) Land intended for the establishment of security-related infrastructure.
d) Land up to five hectares in areas affected by left-wing extremism.

Aims and Justifications: During the Rajya Sabha debate, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized that the Bill aims to develop future infrastructure while minimizing disturbances to forests and enhancing connectivity. The provision to exclude up to five acres of land in regions affected by left-wing extremism is intended to ensure basic amenities like schools and dispensaries for Adivasi communities.

Recognition of Zoos and Eco-Tourism: The Bill seeks to categorize zoos and eco-tourism activities as non-forest activities. This step is taken to promote eco-tourism, involving local communities in generating income while leveraging their traditional knowledge about wildlife.

Environmental Concerns and Criticism

Commercial Exploitation Concerns: Environmentalists have raised concerns, claiming that the Bill might facilitate commercial exploitation of forest land. Ambiguous terms like "public utility specified by the central government" leave room for potential misuse.

Strategic Use of Forest Land: Critics, including former government officials, have expressed apprehension about exempting up to 100 kilometers of forest land, which could be used for strategic purposes in border regions.

Ecological Impact: Critics fear that the exemption might cover ecologically sensitive regions like the entire North East and the majority of the Himalayan region, both of which are crucial habitats for wildlife.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the passage of the Bill, stating that the legislative process was bypassed. He suggested that the amendments and the government's approach highlight a significant gap between its global environmental commitments and actions concerning the environment, forests, and the rights of forest-dwelling communities, particularly Adivasis.