The Indian National Congress has launched a sharp critique against the Modi government's recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The party alleges that the changes, passed last year, have created a legal framework that paves the way for the privatisation of forest management, posing a significant threat to tribal communities and ecological balance.
Allegations of Undermining Tribal Rights and Ecology
In a detailed statement issued on Monday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh articulated the party's core concerns. He asserted that the amended Act, now renamed the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, fundamentally alters the original law's intent. The primary objective of conservation has been diluted, making it easier for forest land to be diverted for non-forest purposes.
Ramesh highlighted that the amendments effectively exempt significant tracts of land from the Act's purview. These include forests recorded as such before October 25, 1980, but not officially notified, and land along rail lines and public roads. This exemption, the Congress claims, opens up vast areas for potential commercial exploitation and privatisation, stripping away protections that have been in place for decades.
Specific Concerns and Historical Context
The Congress leader drew a direct line between the current amendments and past controversies. He recalled the UPA government's attempt in 2007 to make the consent of gram sabhas mandatory for forest land diversion, a move aimed at empowering local tribal communities as per the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. This provision, Ramesh noted, was fiercely resisted by several state governments at the time.
He accused the current dispensation of completing a process that weakens community rights. The new amendments are seen as a systematic effort to sideline the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and reduce the role of tribal communities in decision-making about their ancestral lands. The party warns that this could lead to forests being handed over to private corporations for management under the guise of 'development' or 'conservation,' marginalising the people who have been their traditional custodians.
Broader Implications and Political Standoff
The Congress's critique extends beyond environmental concerns to frame the issue as part of a larger political battle. The statement ties the forest law changes to other contentious policies, such as the now-repeled farm laws and the digital data protection law, portraying them as a pattern of favouring corporate interests over those of farmers, tribes, and citizens.
The party has positioned itself as the defender of tribal rights and ecological justice, vowing to continue raising the issue in Parliament and public forums. This sets the stage for another prolonged political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition, with forest governance and tribal welfare at its centre.
The amendments, passed by Parliament in August 2023, have been a subject of debate since their introduction. While the government argues they are necessary to streamline processes and boost infrastructure development in border areas, critics like the Congress insist the cost is too high. The coming months will likely see increased activism and legal challenges centred on the implementation of the amended Act and its impact on India's forest cover and indigenous populations.
