Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Tuesday advised the Secretaries of different departments to make use of the latest provisions of forest laws for expeditious implementation of the critical infrastructure and development projects. He was having an interactive session on forest diversion proposals held on digital mode from the Lokseba Bhawan in which Additional Chief Secretary Dr Mona Sharma outlined the issues for discussion.
Mahapatra also directed to develop a foolproof online software, through which the forest diversion proposals could be dealt right from the time of initiation to the final sanction and issue of the certificates. He said, “Forest Department officers should be properly oriented and appraised about the recent permissive provisions of the law that allow infrastructure projects and other developmental interventions in the forestland.”
He directed the department to circulate a simplified guideline with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers among the district- and field-level officers of both the forest and user departments.
Dr Sharma said that around 13 types of essential projects could be approved under the latest FRA. These include schools, dispensary, fair price shops, electric and telecommunication lines, tanks, drinking water projects, minor irrigation projects, canal, water harvesting structures, clean energy, skill training centre, roads and community centres. Permission of the use of forestland to the extent of one hector could be given by the DFOs.
Mahapatra directed to identify appropriate land for compensatory afforestation (CA) in lieu of the diverted forest for maintaining ecological balance over the years. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Sishir Kumar Ratho advised that the land identified for land bank should be permissible and appropriate for CA. He advised that the land categories like the degraded revenue forest, patara jungle, jhada jungle, etc., would be ideal for CA.