CENTRE AGREES TO TRANSFER 7693 HECTARES OF FOREST LAND TO TRIBALS IN KERALA

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The Centre today agreed in principle to transfer 7693 ha. of forest land to tribals in Kerala. This would be done after the Kerala Government issues a notification under section-4 of the Forest Act for declaring the proposed compensatory afforestation area as a reserved forest.

The decision was taken at a meeting between the Union Minister for Environment & Forests Shri T.R. Baalu and the Kerala Chief Minister Shri A.K.Antony in New Delhi.

It would be recalled at the Kerala Government had requested for transfer of 12,000 ha. of forest land to tribals. However, after inspection by a central team in June 2003, it was found that 7693 ha. of forest land is presently available which fulfilled the required statutory conditions.