By Lalthlamuana Pachuau
Thuhmahruai:
Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 hi ni 29.3.2023 khan Lok Sabha ah EF&CC Minister, Bhupender Yadav-an a introduce a, ani rawtna angin hemi ni vek hian Select Joint Committee of Parliament, member 31 (LS-21, RS-10) zir chian tura dah nghal a ni (Parliamentary Committee on science, technology, environment & forest, Jairam Ramesh-a kaihhruai kuta dah awm tak a nih laiin).
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) hian Experts leh Stakeholders Organization leh PSUs (Army Northern Command, BRO, BSF, DRDO, DGH, ONGC, etc) te a rawn a, Central Ministry 9 (Home Affairs, Defence, Tribal Affairs, Railways, Road Transport & Highways, RD, Jhal Shakti, Mines, DoNER) leh State hrang hrang atanga comment an dawnte bakah public atanga comment 1309 lai an dawnte an thlir tel bawk a. He Bill sawiselna leh tidanglam tura rawtna chi hrang hrang awm karah JPC chuan an Sitting vawi 9-na (July 11) ah Draft Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 chu tidanglam chuang lo vin a nih ang angin a pawm ta a; ni 20.07.2023 ah report chu Lok Sabha leh Rajya Sabha-ah an thehlut ta a ni.
He Amendment Bill hi a that leh that loh hre tur chuan FCA 1980 (as amended in 1988), Apex Court pawhin khauhtaka a humhalh hi engnge a nih, engnge a tum, a lo pian chhante leh he Bill thar hian eng section leh clause te nge a rawn paih/belh/tihdanglam tih kan hriat a ngai a ni.
I. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980:
1. Kan awmna lei (Earth) hi mihringte chenna tlaka siamtu leh vawngthatu chu ramngaw leh a chhunga nungchate hi an ni a, kan tihchereu/tihrem nasat tawh em avangin ramngaw la awmchhunte hi khauh deuh taka kan humhalh loh chuan he lei/ram hi tangthar lo awm zel turte tan chenna tlak a ni dawn lo tih hriain ramngaw humhalhna Dan, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 chu India ram puma hman turin kum 1980 khan siam a ni a. He Danah hian section panga chauh a awm a, a laimu leh pawimawh lai ber chu section 2-na hi a ni a. Hetiangin-
“Section 2: Ramngaw thiah emaw thil dang atana ramngaw hman khuahkhirhna.- State-in eng Dan pawh lo nei tawh mah se, State sorkar emaw thuneitu dang tumahin central sorkar phalna la hmasa lo chuan –
(i) Ramngaw humhalh (reserved forest) a puan tawh ram khawilai pawh humhalh (reserve) a nih tawh lohna turin thupek (order) a siam tur a ni lo;
(ii) Ramngaw hmun (forest land) khawilai pawh ramngaw siam lehna atan ni lo, thil dang atana hman theihna tur thupek (order) a siam tur a ni lo;
(iii) Ramngaw hmun khawilai pawh, mimal emaw, sorkar ta leh enkawl emaw control ni lo thuneitu leh pawl emaw (any private person or any authority, corporation, agency or any other organization not owned, managed or controlled by Government) hnenah a hman hawhtir emaw a pe (lease or otherwise) tur a ni lo;
(iv) Ramngaw hmun eng lai pawha thing tualtote, ramngaw siam lehna atana kih leh vah phalna (order) a siam tur a ni lo.”
2. Supreme Court order dt 12.12.1996 [WP(C) 202/1995] chuan he Dan hi humhalh paha sawifiahin “He Dan section 2-in ‘ramngaw’ (forest) a tih hian Dictionary-in ramngaw (forest) a hrilhfiah ang tling chin chu a huam vek ang – tu ta pawh, eng ang ramngaw pawh nise (irrespective of ownership and classification)” a tih bakah, “‘Ramngaw hmun’ (forest land) tih hian Dictionary-in ramngaw a tih ang zawng zawng bakah sorkar record-a ‘ramngaw’ (forest) tia chhinchhiah tawh zawng zawng a huam tel ang” a ti bawk a; tin, “India rama khawilai ramngawah pawh central sorkar phalna lova hmalakna (non-forest activity) reng reng chu chawlhsan/a tawp vek tur a ni” a ti bawk.
3. Hengte avang hian ramngaw (forest) hrim hrim chhunga hmalakna (non-forest activity) reng rengah chuan central sorkar atangin ramngaw thiah phalna (Forest Clearance) hi lak hmasak zel a lo ngai ta a ni. Forest clearance chuan ramngaw leh environment tichhe lo thei ang bera hmalak dan turte, ramngaw tihchhiat tur aia ramngaw dang siam lehna turte leh a kaihhnawih thil tamtak a keng tel thin a ni.
II. Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023:
1. He Bill hian “Preamble” a rawn nei thar a, Section 1 a Dan hming “Forest (Conservation) Act” tih chu “Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam” tiin a thlak a, [Dan hming thlak hi sawiseltu an tam hle] section 2 a tihdanglam hret bakah section thar pahnih (1A & 3C) a bilhlut bawk a ni. He Bill hmang hian forest chi (category) thenkhatah ramngaw thiah dawnin Forest Clearance lak kher a ngai tawh lo ang. A awmzia chu FCA, 1980 hian ramngaw zawng zawng hi a humhalh dawn tawh lo a ni.
2. He Dan/Bill-in a huam/humhalh tur ramngawte chu – Sec 1A(1) : (a) Forest Act tlawhchhana forest a puan (notify) te leh (b) ni 25.10.1980 leh a hnu lama sorkar record a ‘forest’ tia chhinchhiahte chauh he dan hian a huam/humhalh tawh dawn a ni.
Nimahsela, forest ram, State sorkar thuneihna hmanga ni 12.12.1996 leh a hma lama thil dang (non-forest purpose) atana lo hman tawh te chu he Dan hian a huam tel lo vang. [sec 1A(1)] [Kum 1997 ah Mizoram sorkarin reserved forest leh non-notified forest (ramngaw tha) kan neihte list hi Supreme Court-ah Affidavit siamin a lo report tawh a, heng non-notified forest te hi sorkar record-ah chuan forest anga chhinchhiah (record) vek an ni a, mahse ni 25.10.1980 hnu lam, ni12.12.1996 hma lama recorded forest ni si, thil dang atana lo hman tawh (Pass pekte tawh) te chu he dan hian a ngaidam vek tihna a ni.]
3. He Dan/Bill-in a huam loh (exempt) turte chu – Sec 1A(2):
(a) Khua emaw rel kawng leh roadside amenity (restaurant/cafeteria) panna vantlang kawng emaw rail line hrula forest ram 0.10 hectare aia zau lo tihchhiat (forest diversion) tur a nihin;
(b) ‘forest’ ti-a puan leh chhinchhiah ni lo hmuna thing tualto leh thing phun chawp leh phun belh te (tree, tree plantation or afforestation outside notified/recorded forest) [RRF leh ILRF tih loh notified forest dang kan nei mang lo va, forest ti-a puan leh chhinchhiah ni lo plantation leh ramngaw tha kan neihte hi he Bill hian a humhalh tel dawn tawh lo (FC dil a ngai tawh lo) tihna a ni];
(c) Heng forest ram –
i) International border atanga km 100 huam chhunga ramngaw (forest), ram tana project pawimawh leh ram himna (linear projects of national importance/security) atana hman tur a nihin; [Mizoram pumpui hi international border atangin km 100 huam chhung vek a ni a, Mizorama forest ram zawng zawng a huam. Central sorkarin linear project pawimawh nia an hriat kalpui tur chuan forest khawilaiah pawh FCA hnuaiah Forest Clearance lak buai a ngai tawh dawn lo va; kan Mizoram Forest Act, 1955 hmang hian kan forest ramte hi humhalhin chutiang project chu kan hnar fithla thei ang em?];
ii) 10 Ha chin a zau, security kaihhnawih hmasawnna ruhrel (infrastructure) dinna tur atana hman tur a nihin; [Hei hian forest ram khawi lai ami pawh a huam].
iii) Defence lam kaihhnawih thil leh vantlang mamawh thil (defence related and public utility projects), central sorkarin tul a tih atana ramngaw chu hman tur a nihin {Left Wing Extremism (LWE) chiahpiah ramah chuan 5 Ha aia zau lo bithliah a ni}; [LWE ram ni lovah hi chuan forest ram divert theih chin zauzawng hi bithliah a ni ve lo niin a lang].
4. Central sorkarin inkaihhruaina (Guidelines) a siam ang – sec 1A(3): He Bill-a [sub-section (2)] in a huam loh tur forest ram leh project atante khian Central sorkarin inkaihhruaina (guidelines) a siam ang a, chutah chuan project neitute zawm ngei tur thil (terms & conditions) hrang hrang bakah thing kih leh tihchhiat ai phun leh dan turte bithliah a ni ang.
[He Central Act/Bill-in a huam(cover) loh tur hmun – forest ram leh project thenkhat atana Central sorkarin Guidelines siam a tum hi thil awm ngai lo leh thil awmze nei (valid) lo, mahni kuang lo nawr ang a ni lo maw? Entirna: Mizoram Forest Act hian District Council a huam lo va, chuti chunga Mizoram sorkarin District Council tana Guidelines va siam sak tum ang vel a ni].
5. FCA 1980 laimu ber, Section 2 chungchang:
He Bill hian FCA laimu ber section 2 kha nambar thar pe-in, sub-section (1) of section 2 tiin a rawn dah a. He section 2(1) hnuaia clause pali awmsate zinga clause (iii)-na hi tihdanglam hret a ni a, hetiangin:-
“(iii) Ramngaw hmun (forest land) khawilai pawh, mimal emaw thuneitu (authority) leh pawl emaw hnenah a hman hawhtir emaw a pe (lease or otherwise) tur a ni lo, mahse hei hi Central sorkarin order hmanga thudelhkilh (terms & conditions) a siamah a innghat ang.”
[Central sorkarin thudelhkilh (terms & conditions) a siamte an zawm dawn chuan mimal, thuneitu leh pawl-in forest ram a hawh leh hman hi phalsak theih a ni dawn ta a. Hei hian reserved forest chhunga Pass/Land Lease pek theihna remchang a hawng thei dawn a ni].
6. Section 2 hnuaia Explanation-ah hian “non-forest purpose” hrilhfiahna tidanglam lo vin “non-forest purpose” in a huam loh tur (FCA danin a ngaimawh loh tur) thilte hi nambar te pein tihdanglam hret a ni a, hetiangin:-
“but does not include any work relating to or ancillary to conservation, development and management of forests and wildlife, such as—
(i) silvicultural operations including regeneration operations;
(ii) establishment of check-posts and infrastructure for the front line forest staff;
(iii) establishment and maintenance of fire lines;
(iv) wireless communications;
(v) construction of fencing, boundary marks or pillars, bridges and culverts, check dams, waterholes, trenches and pipelines;
(vi) establishment of zoo and safaris referred to in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, owned by the Government or any authority, in forest areas other than protected areas;
(vii) eco-tourism facilities included in the Forest Working Plan or Wildlife Management Plan or Tiger Conservation Plan or Working Scheme of that area; and
(viii) any other like purposes, which the Central Government may, by order, specify.
[Heng thil, FCA in a khap loh turte hi forest leh wildlife humhalhna, tihhmasawnna leh enkawlna lam hawi vek thil a nih dawn avangin (clause viii-na thleng hian) thil ngaimawhawm an ni lo.
(“Non-forest purpose” tih hian thing phun leh ramngaw siamna atan ni lo, thil dang reng reng atana ramngaw vah fai emaw tihchereu hi a huam vek a ni – see Explanation below section 2.)]
7. Section 2 hnuaiah sub-section (2) dah belh a ni a, hetiangin:-
“’(2) The Central Government may, by order, specify the terms and conditions subject to which any survey, such as, reconnaissance, prospecting, investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest purpose.”
[Heng thilte hi Central sorkarin ramngaw tichhiat lohna tur thudelhkilh (terms & conditions) a siam zawm chunga tih/kalpui a nih chuan ngaihmawhawm tur niin a lang lo. State sorkar pawhin khuahkhirhna a lo siam thei dawn tho bawk a.]
8. Section 3C dah belh thar a ni bawk a, hetiangin:-
“3C. The Central Government may, from time to time, issue such directions, to any authority under the Central Government, State Government or Union territory Administration, or to any organisation, entity or body recognised by the Central Government, State Government or Union territory Administration, as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act.”
[He Dan (FCA) kenkawhna tur atana Central sorkarin a hnuaia thuneitute, State/UT sorkar leh an hnuaia lehchhawnga thuneitu dang awmte hnena a tul ang zela thupek (directions) a pekin legal back-up a neih theih nan he section thar hi dah a ni.]
State hrang hrang sorkar leh ram mipuite, Pawl (NGO) hrang hrang leh mimal atangtein he Bill hi sawiselna, duhlohna, tihdanglam hret duhna a tam hle a, a chhan chu he Bill hi Act a lo nih chuan India rama ramngaw tamtak hian a chereu phah dawn vang a ni. Mizoram tana ngaimawhawm lai ber chu Central sorkarin ram tana pawimawh leh defence/security tana pawimawh leh mipui vantlang hman tangkai tur project (strategic linear project of national importance and concerning security, defence related projects, public utility projects) ni-a an ngaih atan reserved forest leh ramngaw hrim hrim tihchhiat a ngaihin FC lak a ngai tawh lo tur hi a ni. Kan State Forest Act hi he Central Act leh chumi hnuaia guidelines te chuan forest hi concurrent subject a nihna tanchhanin a rawn over-rule dawn si a.
Mi thiltithei leh pamhamte’n kan reserved forest chhungah engtin tin emaw Land Pass siamtirin sorkar leh mimal project te pawh FC tel lovin an kalpui ngam/thei zel a. Hengte avang hi nge ni forest rama hma la tur chuan harsa taka FC lak a ngai chung pawha kan ramngaw la neihchhunte hi heti taka a chereu chak tak ni. FCA hnuaia ramngaw humhalhna leh khuahkhirhna khauh deuh tak tel lo chuan kan reserved forest te hi kan humhalh zo lo vang tih a hlauhawm hle a ni. Kan reserved forest (RRF) neihchhunte humhalh tura State sorkar leh mi thiltitheite hma lak tawh dante pawh a ngaihventute thinlungah a cham reng si a.
Engpawhnise sawiselna leh siam that hlek rawtna tamtak karah a zirchiang tura ruat Joint Parliamentary Committee (member 31 awmna) chuan he FC Amendment Bill, 2023 hi tidanglam miah lo vin a nih ang angin a pawm a, Lok Sabha pawhin ni 26.07.2023 khan a lo pass tawh a ni.