Bengaluru: Move to amend Forest Act flayed

Bengaluru: Amendments proposed to the Indian Forest Act 1927 has met with derision and the political fracas with regards to certain sections has already begun.

At a public discussion on the amendments made to Forest Act organised by United Conservation Movement, A.M. Annaiah, former Additional Principal Chief Conservator, Forests, said that overall the amendments were fairly well except for a few sections. “Reserve forest should not be used for production forestry. One of the sections says any forest land could be converted into village land. Under the definition of forest. even reserve forest comes and that should be left untouched,” he added.

Annaiah opined that only Indian Forest Act should prevail. “One can do away with Karnataka Forest Act by incorporating some of the parts needed for state in the Indian Forest Act itself,” he remarked. The former IFS officer even criticised the Forest Rights Act 2006, which according to him affected the conservation of forest.

“Even though the intent was good, the inclusion of other traditional forest dwellers affected the conservation.

Forest became a mosaic and it was found that more than 80% were not eligible. There were fake claims,” Annaiah said.

The proposed amendment allows any officer, may if necessary, to prevent the commission of any forest offence and use as little force, including firearms and do as little injury to person and property. The amendment though protects the forest official, it goes against the Arms Act, as under the act only officers above the rank of Sub-Inspectors can carry arms. One of the amendments which everyone agreed with was the upgradation of forest area from protected to reserved.