Chhota Bhangal residents get land rights

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, June 23

After about 40 years, residents of Chhota Bhangal in Kangra, including Rulling, Kothi Kohar and Multhan panchayats, have been given rights over common land.

The common land of these villages was converted into forestland on the directions of the state government in 1980s. Since then the locals have been in a direct conflict with the forest and wildlife departments over the use of common land for grazing cattle and collection of forest produce. The residents of these panchayats have been given back rights over common land under the Forest Rights Act 2006.

Villagers can now graze animals

• The common land of panchayats was converted into forestland on government directions in 1980s
• Traditional rights of panchayats over common land will not include right to hunt any species of wild animals
• Now, the villagers have got rights, including to graze their animals, collect wood for daily use, collect forest produce

As per the notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Nipun Jindal, the residents of these panchayats will now have the rights to graze their animals, reap grass for fodder, collect wood for daily use, get timber for marriage, reap grass for making ropes and other agriculture needs, collect wild fruits, flowers and herbs for self use or sale, collect stones, slate, clay, lime for use in buildings, water mills and for making clay pots, get timber for cremation, use of water for human and cattle, use of land for cremation, collection of herbs, snags of Bamboo and plants for making baskets and brooms for self use and collection of wild honey on common land.

The panchayats that have got land rights have been directed to allow access to nomadic and pastoral communities to graze their cattle.

Akshay Jasrotia, who has been fighting for forest rights in Kangra district, says that justice has been delivered to the permanent residents of Chotta Bhangal after a decades-long struggle. In many cases, the houses of people located on common land were converted into forestland and encroached upon. Now, at least these people will not be forced out of their houses, he adds.