Twitter campaign by environment enthusiasts demand scrapping of Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill
Nature and environment enthusiasts initiated a Twitter campaign on Monday to voice their concerns against the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023. During the campaign, several environment activists and enthusiasts tweeted about the potential setbacks of the proposed amendment to the Forest (Conservation) Act.
Prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, and other political figures, were tagged in the tweets as part of the awareness campaign.
The main demand of the campaign was the withdrawal of the proposed amendment to safeguard Indian forests and promote their conservation. Several hashtags including #ScrapForestConservationAmendmentBill2023 and #SaveIndianForests were used during the campaign.
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which came into effect on October 25, 1980, was enacted to conserve forests by restricting de-reservation of forest and forest land for non-forest purposes. According to Sections 2 and 3 of the act, any de-reservation of forest land requires prior approval from the central government based on the advice of an advisory committee.
An exemption to the forest clearance rules was provided by the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act), 2006. Under this act, the central government recognized and vested forest rights, offering certain exemptions to forest clearance for scheduled tribes and other forest-dwelling communities.
However, the proposed Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to provide exemptions to forest land under the pretext of facilitating social, economic, and environmental needs. The exemptions are aimed at forest lands situated alongside a rail line or a public road maintained by the government, projects of national importance related to national security, construction of security and defense-related infrastructure, camps for paramilitary forces, and public utility projects. The amendment also includes provisions for granting forest land for non-forest activities, such as wireless communications, construction of fencing, bridges, culverts, check dams, waterholes, trenches, pipelines, establishment of zoos, safaris, and eco-tourism facilities.
The proposed amendment has raised several concerns. Firstly, it appears to be contradictory to the original intent of the 1980 Act, which was enacted to prevent de-reservation of forest land, conversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, and large-scale deforestation. Secondly, such forest clearance activities may infringe upon the rights of forest-dwelling communities protected under the 2006 Act, thereby weakening the existing protections. Thirdly, the proposed exemptions to forest lands do not involve the consent or clearance from relevant authorities such as Gram Sabhas, Sub-divisional level committees, District level committees, and State Level Monitoring Committees.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
