NGO out to save forest land in Mumbai

Mumbai: On World Environment Day on June 5, a conservationist has warned the Maharashtra government that the state has lost far more forest land to agriculture than for development projects during the last six years.

Neither forests nor biodiversity can be recreated and the government must, therefore, seriously consider the statistics that have come to light and frame a strategy accordingly, said Kishor Rithe, founder of Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for wildlife conservation.

In a letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on April 19, Rithe said that “the entire forestland diverted under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 for all developmental [infrastructure] project proposals from Maharashtra from 2005 to 2012 was 6,627 hectares of forest land for 294 development proposals after approval by the Government of India.”

In comparison, forest land distributed to individuals as ‘pattas’ or plots for agriculture from 2006 to 2013 under Forest Rights Act 2006 was nearly 93,467 hectares.

“This is 14 times more than what the state has given to essential community projects for the development of the entire state,” Rithe said.

Comparison

Railway and road projects are a must for the development of the state, he said, and often require forest land. While public transport reduces smaller vehicles on the road and also traffic congestion, irrigation and water resource projects help farmers, townships and industry. Even the most destructive mining projects help the state to generate more revenue. All such development projects have consumed 6,627 hectares of forest land in six years in comparison to the colossal amount for agriculture plots distributed to individuals.

“The question is whether it will really help the individual forest dwellers and communities living in the forest,” he said. He doubts whether forest clearance for agriculture will give any major benefits to the state and urges research into this matter.

“Since the implementation of the Forest Rights Act is not open-ended, Satpuda Foundation has requested the chief minister and the state government to put a full stop to distribution of forest land to individuals. The encroachments by individuals prior to December 13, 2005 have been already claimed and settled [accepted or rejected] by three-tier communities.”

But now, his NGO has received several reports of fresh encroachments in the state. This needs to be stopped urgently, Rithe warned.