By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Representatives from the District Council, traditional heads and other institutions have sought two months’ time to study and give their views on the proposed draft amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
The forest department on Monday held a consultative meeting with stakeholders to seek their views on the proposed draft amendment to the Indian Forest Act.
Some of the proposed amendments include subjects such as sustainable management of forest, duties of village councils in protection of forest and other such chapters.
Additional Chief Conservator of Forests (ACCF), M.B.K Reddy while speaking at the meeting made it clear that the proposed amendments will not have any impact in the state Since Meghalaya is a sixth scheduled state where over 95 per cent of the forest area are under the district councils,
traditional institutions and privately owned. It may be mentioned that as per the Forest Survey of India Report, Meghalaya has about 76 per cent of its area under forest.
Informing that just 5 per cent of the forest area is under the control of the state under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he further informed that Centre wants to amend the British era Act and bring in uniformity in the country, although most states, like Meghalaya, has its own Forest Acts. It is learnt that the views of the stakeholders will be sought before the draft prepared by a core committee is given a final shape. Earlier, the Meghalaya Land Forest Owners Association (MLFOA) led by its adviser John F Kharshiing, submitted a memorandum to Lahkmen Rymbui, Minister in-charge Forest urging him to move the Centre and review its decision to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and other forest related Acts.