Reset on:
INDIA’S new Forest Conservation Rules attack indigenous rights and must be withdrawn, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) says.
The area beyond which “diversion” of forest land for commercial purposes must be reviewed by special committee has been raised from 100 to 1,000 hectares and provisions that specify the consent of forest dwellers must first be obtained have been scrapped under the rules, which form an amendment to the Forest Conservation Act.
CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat said the changes were so sweeping the Act should be renamed the “forest corporatisation Act.”
Ms Karat wrote to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, saying the “unacceptable” changes violate the Indian constitution, the Forest Rights Act itself, the Wildlife Protection Act and previous Supreme Court rulings against development of land inhabited by adivasis, as India’s indigenous forest tribes are known.
The whole process was to “help corporates and private companies to gain access and control of India’s forests” and the government was dishonest in pushing it through a rule-change rather than introducing new legislation, she said.
Diversion of forest land for development has accelerated rapidly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has approved multiple new coalmines in formerly protected areas and vowed to make India a leading producer of palm oil.
Deforestation for palm oil production has devastated ecosystems in Indonesia.
It has begun a re-registration process for tribal land rights which is seeing millions of adivasis evicted from their lands, with a single court ruling in 2019 displacing two million households.
You can’t buy a revolution, but you can help the only daily paper in Britain that’s fighting for one by joining the 501 club.
Just £5 a month gives you the opportunity to win one of 17 prizes, from £25 to the £501 jackpot.
By becoming a 501 Club member you are helping the Morning Star cover its printing, distribution and staff costs — help keep our paper thriving by joining!
You can’t buy a revolution, but you can help the only daily paper in Britain that’s fighting for one by become a member of the People’s Printing Press Society.
The Morning Star is a readers’ co-operative, which means you can become an owner of the paper too by buying shares in the society.
Shares are £10 each — though unlike capitalist firms, each shareholder has an equal say. Money from shares contributes directly to keep our paper thriving.
Some union branches have taken out shares of over £500 and individuals over £100.
You can’t buy a revolution, but you can help the only daily paper in Britain that’s fighting for one by donating to the Fighting Fund.
The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. We offer a platform for those who would otherwise never be listened to, coverage of stories that would otherwise be buried.
The rich don’t like us, and they don’t advertise with us, so we rely on you, our readers and friends. With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power.
Donate today and make a regular contribution.
FORMER England defender Rio Ferdinand was subjected to offensive, racist, unpleasant abuse including a monkey gesture by a football fan during a Pr
We’re a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.
