GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 624
ANSWERED ON: 21.05.2012
MANAGEMENT OF FOREST LAND
ARJUN ROY
ANANT KUMAR HEGDE
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:-
(a) the extent of participation of local administration in the management of forest land at present;
(b) whether suggestions have been received from various quarters to empower gram sabhas, village
councils and panchayats in the management of forest projects and assign mandatory powers of
approval in respect of diversion of forest land for non-forest activities pertaining to developmental
projects;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the other steps taken or being taken by the Government to ensure a more meaningful participation
of the local people in the management of forest land?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 624 due for
reply on 21.05.2012 regarding Management of Forest Land raised by Shri Arjun Ray and Shri Anant
Kumar Hegde.
(a) Participation of local bodies in management of forest land is done under Joint Forest Management
(JFM) wherein following the principle of care and share, Joint Forest Management Committees
comprising of local people protect, conserve and manage the forest sustainably in return for usufructs
and predetermined share from harvesting operations.
(b) & (c) Yes, Sir. The Ministry has received suggestions from various quarters to empower Gram
Sabhas, village councils and panchayats in management of forest projects. An advisory has been
issued by the Ministry to all States/UTs vide D.O. No. 1-50/MOS(I/C)E&F/10 dated 29th October,
2010 to all Chief Ministers to take suitable action so that JFM Committee functions under the overall
guidance of Gram Sabha, is recognized as organs of Gram Sabha and inter-alia functions as Standing
Committee of Gram Sabha.For diversion of forest land for non-forestry activities including