Forest deptt sets up panel to seek technical, legal support
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Dec 17: In a significant development, Jammu & Kashmir’s Forest department has set-up a high-level committee to provide it legal and technical support for implementation of the Forest Rights Act(FRA) in the Union Territory.
The eight-member panel headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and Chief Executive Officer, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Sarvesh Rai will comprise of Indian Forest Service officers and other officials of the department.
According to an order, a copy of which is in possession of news agency- Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the committee will act as think tank on various aspects of the implementation of Forest Rights Act for the Forest department.
The committee has been mandated to consult experts and go through central and state laws and court directions to provide inputs to the department on implementation of the law.
As already reported, the government has constituted UT- level monitoring committee, sub-divisional committees and district -level committees for implementation of Forest Rights Act in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The UT-level monitoring committee has been mandated to devise criteria and indicators for monitoring the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights.
The panel headed has also been empowered to monitor the process of recognition, verification and vesting of forest rights in Jammu & Kashmir. It will meet at least once in three months to monitor the process of recognition, verification and vesting of forest rights, consider and address the field level problems, and furnish a quarterly report to the central government on their assessment regarding the status of claims. (KNO)