A member of the Jharkhand State Wildlife Board DS Srivastava has urged the civil authorities to be extra cautious in issuing patta under Forest Rights Act. The wildlife board’s member alleged that any haste in meeting the number of pattas may defeat the purpose and hence care and caution be exercised. Srivastava said there are 30 villages under Palamu Tiger Reserve where dwellers have first cleaned the areas of the shrubs and trees and are there after 2005. Such dwellers be first verified if their staying in the jungle is after 2005 and if it is there then in that event no patta be given.
When asked as to how it will be verified Srivastava said the satellite imagery be checked of the year 2005 and before of these 30 villages and if there is forest there then no patta be issued. He said villages namely Morwai, Saidup, Kabree Kotam Henar, Amwatiker Ramandaag be verified for this first. The wildlife board member reiterated that he is not against patta to those living on forest land before 2005 but after 2005 there should not be. An illegal occupation of forest land be not converted into a legal one.