The State forests are classified as reserve and un-reserved forests. The reserve forests are again classified as ‘A’ and ‘B’ class. No right is entertained in ‘A’ class reserve forests, but some rights are entertained in the ‘B’ class.
Right means public rights, which are bonafide. Generally, the forest dwellers and the people residing in close proximity of the reserve forest have customary rights over collection of minor forest produces, fire woods, small size timbers and agricultural implements etc.
In Odisha, there are 58,136 sqkm of recorded forest areas as against 155,707sqkm of geographical areas. Similarly there are 26,329 sqkm of reserve forests, 15,525 sqkm of protected forests and 16,282 sqkm of unclosed forests. This is based on information of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). There are various local names of protected forests like Kheshera, Patara, Jhatia and Chhada Jangal etc based on local classification.
The rightful owner of the protected forests is the Revenue Department. The Forest Department is responsible only for protection whereas land belongs to the former. When the forest crops are removed from any portion of protected forests, the Revenue Department treats the land as “Anabadi” which means none has owned the land and the land is in the books of records of the Revenue Department. A dual administration governs our protected forests. The land is always leased out without the knowledge of the Forest department.
There is always conflict between the two departments over land. After independence, vast forest areas of the State have been leased out to various private persons and private institutions without the knowledge of the Forest Department. A forest settlement officer in senior OAS rank is appointed for this reason in every revenue district to expedite the process. About 16,282 sqkm unclassed forests have mostly been occupied for office, residence and other purposes of the Forest Department. This is the status of 2005 as expressed by the Survey of India.
Patia, Khorda and Damapara are ex- Zamindary areas. There are unclassed forests within Patia villages under the glare of the grabbers. Khorda village forest land is now totally grabbed by powerful private persons. Now we can find lots of farm houses within forest areas of Chandka and other forests in the State. The great Similipal too is not free from encroachment. Most of the mangrove forests of coastal zone have also been privatized for cultivation of prawns, shrimps, betel and other crops.
All the land forgery is going on in the State with active connivance of the Revenue officials. Although the State police are equally empowered to book cases against the grabbers of forest land, most of the time the police avoid such cases on the plea of civil disputes.
Generally the protected forests are plain forest land and very much suitable for cultivation. So forest land is vulnerable to massive encroachment and privatization.
In Keonjhar and Mayurbhanja districts most of the plain forests are under encroachments. The boundary of a protected forest has not been clearly demarcated because of dual administration of forest land. Now hill forests are also grabbed for quarrying of minerals. All such malpractices are to be properly investigated and the venal officials should be brought into the grip of the judicial process. So it is high time all such land should be declared as reserve forests and brought into the fold exclusively of the Forest administration. Otherwise land grabbing will continue in the State.
The Union Government promulgated the Forest (conservation) Act 1980 and the Forest (conservation) Rules 2003 and 2004 for protection of national forests. The leasing out of forest land or privatization of land within Ghangapatna village amounts to offence under the laws. The dishonest employees and the people involved in grabbing of forest lands are liable for prosecution under the provisions of Odisha Forest Act 1972 and the Wild life (protection) Act 1972. The State Government should bring all the culprits to book under the existing provisions of law.
The zoological garden of Nandankanan is now at a stake. The land in the four sides of this park is being grabbed. The boundary walls of the park are collapsing due to stagnation of water within the foundation areas. Similarly the Kanjia lake is fast turning out to be a swamp due to blockage of drainage system. Hence, the Government should spare no time to save the Nandankanan forests.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)