Opposing the amended Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, in a letter to Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, has said the amended rules were aimed at corporatisation and not conservation.
Ms. Karat said “it is objectionable, condemnable and unacceptable how the amended rules have totally eliminated the rights of gram sabhas and of tribal communities and others living in forests.”
The new rules stipulate a two-stage approval process — in principle approval and final approval. Shockingly, Ms. Karat said that to get either of these approvals from the Central government, in the list of compliances, the condition for consent of the gram sabha had been completely eliminated.
