In a flip-flop, the Environment Ministry on Saturday said it had “inadvertently” uploaded a “study” and “not issued” any draft forest policy, days after it put up a document, titled the Draft National Forest Policy 2016, on its website and sought public opinion.
The Ministry said the study done by Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal was “inadvertently” uploaded on its website as draft forest policy.
“The Ministry has not issued any draft notification on National Forest Policy. What has been uploaded on the website was a study done by Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. The study has not been evaluated by the Ministry.
“The Ministry has not taken any decision on draft forest policy. The study report prepared by IIFM, Bhopal was inadvertently uploaded as draft forest policy on the website,” said SS Negi, Director General, Forest, and Special Secretary, Environment Ministry.
The Ministry had uploaded the draft national forest policy on its website which, once ratified, would have replaced the 1988 policy.