Forest Conservation Rules: Concerns

The Forest Conservation Rules deal with the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980. They prescribe the procedure to be followed for diversion of forest land for non-forestry uses such as road construction, highway development, railway lines, and mining.

Rules

• The rules shift the responsibility of the Union government to take the consent of Adivasis (before the approval of a project) onto the State Governments. It means that the burden to ensure the rights of Scheduled Tribes to their traditional forestlands is now with the State Governments.
• A project, once approved by the FAC, will then be passed on ....