Letters

Curb on mining in Western Ghats

MoEF accepts Kasturirangan report; will declare one-third of the range ecologically sensitive

Mining sans social consent

Andhra Pradesh coal firm’s plan to convert underground mine to open cast will affect people of eight villages

Odisha issues guidelines for FRA convergence plan implementation

The guidelines aim to increase benefits through community involvement

Tribal affairs ministry gives in to pressure, ‘okays’ Village Forest Rules

These rules, if implemented, will lead to dilution of the Forest Rights Act

Jharkhand govt doesn’t have legal rights over 38% of its forest

The state forest department has not issued final notifications to convert 7.33 lakh hectares of forest land, rendering this land legally …

Centre uses SC order to turn forest land into revenue land

11-year-old order for relocating three Maharashtra villages used for conversion in 18 states

The Indian Forest Act’s proposed amendment is dangerous and fanciful

Like other policies in the recent past, this one also shows the complete unwillingness of the forest bureaucracy in accepting a different role

CJI Bench sends fresh petition on FRA to Arun Mishra Bench

Since a similar matter is before the Mishra Bench, the CJI Bench has sent the new petition to it

Forest Rights Act: Evicting the gaps

To protect traditional forest dwellers, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, needs to be enforced properly and not be used against them

SC on FRA: 11.8 lakh forest dwellers can 'stay' put

The apex court has asked states to file affidavits describing process followed to reject tribals’ claims to traditional forestlands

No land for tribals displaced by Maoist-Salwa Judum conflict: Centre

Activists say that the displacement occurred because Chhattisgarh supported the Salwa Judum; Union minister Arjun Munda says Centre trying to …

The Simlipal quandary: Tribals or tigers, who should take precedence?

After fire sweeps through village of tribespeople relocated for wildlife’s sake, questions are being asked

Constitutional violations in amended Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, say experts

‘Centre absolving itself from its constitutional responsibility of protecting the environment by enacting the law’

Andhra government should immediately compensate tribals displaced by Polavaram project

Scientific assessment of ecosystem services should be carried out for quantifying the compensation

Chhattisgarh: Adivasis say FRA violated, as forest department marks trees for felling in 3 districts

Villagers now have the legal right to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage these lands

‘Review 150,000 forest rights claims rejected without reason’

Procedures violated; Rights body demands findings reports for Scheduled Tribe, Other Traditional Forest Dwellers claims

Let the Van Gujjars remain nomadic

The attitudes of the forest department towards the Van Gujjars’ nomadism must change in order to view it as a matter of right for …

MoEF&CC takes back advisory to avoid honeycombing of forest land under FRA

An official from the environment ministry says the advisory was withdrawn as there is no provision under the Forest Rights Act to club land together

How accurate are government’s claims on forest rights in Odisha

A review by the Centre recently found Odisha to be the best performing state in forest rights implementation   

Odisha tribals to sell kendu leaves and exercise their forest rights

The state’s forest department has not allowed sale of the leaves to anyone other than the goverment 

Odisha villagers, forest department at loggerheads over rights to sell kendu leaves

Can Odisha government deregulate kendu leaf trade with support mechanisms to facilitate private trade beneficial to communities?

Niyamgiri answers

People veto bauxite mining, but Vedanta is unlikely to let go of the bounty

Letters

Desperate to relocate

Chetty communities living in the core area of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve have been demanding that they be shifted out of the forest for three decades.…