- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced an amendment bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, that seeks to bring clarity to the country’s forest conservation law and exempt certain categories of lands from its purview to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance.
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, amid slogan shouting by opposition members demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Adani issue.
- The bill was then sent to a joint committee of both the Houses for discussion.
- The committee consists of 19 Lok Sabha members, 10 Rajya Sabha members and two members to be nominated by the Lok Sabha speaker.
- According to the government, the bill seeks to clarify the scope of applicability of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, on various lands.
- It seeks to broaden the horizons of the Act, keeping in view India’s aim to increase forest cover for creation of a carbon sink of additional 2.5-3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
Key features of the Bill:-
- Clarify scope of applicability of the Act upon various lands.
- Exempt certain categories of lands from the purview of the Act to:-
- Fast track strategic and security related projects,
- Encourage plantation on non-forest land,
- Provide access to small establishments, habitations etc.
- Include more activities, which are taken up for the cause of conservation of forest and wild life.