Rajya Sabha takes up Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha has taken up the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing yesterday. The Bill seeks to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to make it applicable to certain types of land. The Bill also exempts certain types of land from the purview of the Act. These include land within 100 kilometers of the country's border needed for national security projects, small roadside amenities, and public roads leading to habitation. 

The objectives of the Bill are, to exempt certain categories of lands from the purview of the Act and to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance. The Bill also has provisions to provide access to small establishments, and habitations on the side of public roads and railways and to encourage plantation on non-forest land. 

Under the Act, a state government requires prior approval of the Central Government to assign forest land to any entity not owned or controlled by the



Government. In the Bill, this condition is extended to all entities, including those owned and controlled by the government.

 

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav moved the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023. Speaking on the Bill, Mr. Yadav said, the Bill has been brought with an objective to increase green coverage, reduce carbon emissions, and create a balance between environmental, and socio-economic development. He said, the Bill has a provision to increase the scope of agroforestry.

 

Initiating the discussion, Dr. Prashanta Nanda of BJD supported the Bill saying that this will facilitate development in the border areas. He stressed that an increase in forest cover will help in achieving the net-zero emission target. Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP said, the objective of the bill is to create a balance between forest conservation and developmental activities. Discussion is underway.