The Ministry of Environment
and Forests has approved proposals for diversion of 6,145.01 hectares
of forest land in Maharashtra for conversion of forest villages
into revenue villages, regularisation of agrisilvi plots and rehabilitation
of people settled in a wildlife sanctuary. Conveying the Ministry’s
approval, the Environment and Forests Minister, Shri T.R.Baalu
urged the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh to
ensure compliance of conditions imposed in this regard.
The approvals accorded
include deresevation of 4073.95 hectares of forest land for conversion
of 73 forest villages into revenue villages in Nandurbar district
in favour of permanent plot holders and Eksali plot holders. Diversion
of 1658 hectares of forest land has been approved for regularisation
of agrisilvi plots in Nandurbar district besides diversion of
413.06 hectares of forest land for rehabilitation of persons from
Jadoli, Punavali, Pachaoli and Kisrule villages in Koyna Wildlife
Sancturary in Satara and Sungli districts.
It has been stipulated
that pattas will be given only on inalienable and inheritable
rights basis and the corresponding changes in revenue records
to be made only after the final judgement of the Supreme Court
in respect of dereservation of forest lands.
4.32 million hectares
of forest land was diverted for non-forestry purposes between
1950 and 1980 at the rate of about 1.50 lakh hectares per year
which has been significantly brought down to about 25,000 hectares
per year since the enactment of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
