Need special plan to rein in Gothikoyas to protect forests

Khammam/Kothagudem: The forest officials are mulling over how to deal with actors and forces causing deforestation, damaging the environment, after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao called for a comprehensive review of existing laws related to forest protection in the state.

The CM stressed the slogan “Jungle Bachao-Jungle Badao” and he had instructed officials to work on a new Act for comprehensive protection of the environment in the state. The CM has entrusted the responsibility of protecting the environment to the forest department in particular. But there are several constraints, it is pointed out.

Firstly, smuggling of teak by the big operators with the help of some black sheep in the forest department is a hurdle. The damage to the forest is over several  thousands of acres in a year and can be curbed only by executing stringent laws and placing forest staff with integrity in reserve forests.

The punishment under the forest protection act should be speeded up by following a foolproof mechanism like the cases being solved as a law and order issue by police personnel, it was pointed out.

Secondly, the expansion of human habitats is also a threat to the reserve forests. Some of the forces with the support of political leaders are occupying forest areas claiming to be Adivasis.

These sections can be stopped only if the political bosses give full powers to the forest law implementing authority. Before that, the government should stop further podu cultivation by settling the issue of podu farmers who are cultivating at present.

Thirdly, the government should be judicious and take a broader view while acquiring forest land for public-interest projects. The government is contributing to the damage to the environment by acquiring reserve forest lands in a big way.

Such acquisition should be checked and forest land be acquired only for emergency projects only. At the same time, the government should be serious about greening vacant forest lands.

PSUs like SCCL should be serious in taking plantations in the abandoned open cast mines and such companies should allocate 15 per cent of their profits for it.

Fourthly, there is a delicate and sensitive issue to  the government in dealing with primitive tribes particularly Gothikoya, a tribe settling in the two districts from Bastar Region in Chattisgarh and Koya tribes.

There are 93 Gothikoya habitations in Kothagudem-Bhadradri district and 23 in Khammam district.

Over 980 Gothikoya families are living in it. Cutting reserve forest is the passion and tradition of this tribe who believe that the forests were created for them.

There is a High Court direction on the rights of these tribes. The government machinery should handle these sections with care while dealing with the sons of the soil issue.

A special project is required for them without harming their interests and rights. Changing their mindset with love and affection will be the only solution to change their path, it is pointed out. The government should implement a 15-year time-bound program to deal with these  hard-working tribes. Forest officials are also evolving a plan to tackle these tribes apart from smugglers.