Retired IFS officers prepare Foresters’ Guide to educate field officers on FRA implementation
This guide contains the perspective of the forest officers on how FRA should be implemented and the role of foresters at the gram panchayat and district levels for the same.
3 min read
The need for developing the guide was felt when the objectives behind the FRA were not adhered to in many instance A group of 40 retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers from different states have prepared a Foresters’ Guide on Forest Right Act (FRA). The guide has been prepared with the aim of educating forest field officers on the proper FRA implementation.
The guide book was released virtually on August 15 by retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) of Karnataka BK Singh.
This guide contains the perspective of the forest officers on how FRA should be implemented and the role of foresters at the gram panchayat and district levels for the same. The officers claimed that FRA has been misused by ineligible claimants to encroach forest land.
The development comes days after a group of 63 retired IFS officers from different states had written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their concern over the misuse of Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.
“This document is intended to provide guidance to the field foresters for implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA) in its true letter and spirit. The need for developing it was felt when the objectives behind the FRA were not adhered to in many instances leading to recognition of forest rights in ineligible cases during its actual implementation and consequent implications in various parts of the country,” former IFS officers stated in the guide.
The guide suggests to the forest officers that they should be aware of the fact that if any title over forest right is given on a forest land encroached after December 13, 2005, it is in violations of FRA, Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Indian Forest Act, 1927, and concerned forest officer also becomes responsible for such illegal action as they are the custodian of the forests under their jurisdiction.
“The Act restricts forest rights in respect of forest land and their habitat only to those who have occupied forest land prior to 13.12.2005 and all forest encroachers after 13.12.2005 are liable for eviction and other legal consequences under the Indian Forest Act/State Forest Act. Sec.4(5) of the FRA gives protection to claimants against any eviction till recognition and verification process is complete. Once claims are rejected by the District Level Committee, such rejection becomes final and binding on all and no further appeal lies against them and such encroachments must be evicted,” the guide stated.
Karnataka forest and environment minister Eshwar Khandre had last week directed the additional chief secretary (forest, ecology and environment) Jawaid Akhtar to look into the allegations against the forest officers in Shivamogga who did not evict those encroachers whose applications under FRA was rejected by the authorities.
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