Environment ministry permits diversion of forest land for development work

The Union Ministry of Environment and forest (MoEF) has given permission for the diversion of about 1,058 hectares of reserve forest land in Panchmahals district for tribals under the Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Officials said that the permission is for diversion of land in ten villages in Godhra and Shahera talukas of Panchmahals. Giving a brief history of the episode, officials said 450 displaced families of Hadaf, Kasturi and Idalwada irrigation projects in Panchmahals district were rehabilitated in forest areas of ten villages in 1978.

However, for over 30 years, land could not be made available to the displaced under the act.

Several development works in the 1,058 hectares of forest land, including those of the state government, were stalled due to the stalemate.

Chief minister Narendra Modi directed the state forest department and state's resident commissioner in New Delhi for taking up the matter with the central empowered committee (CEC) appointed by MoEF and Supreme Court to resolve the issue on a priority basis.
A document prepared by the state's chief conservator of forest, Pradeep Khanna, was sent to the union ministry.

The stalemate was ended recently with the union ministry giving the permission to divert the land for development works.