Claims under Forest Rights Act to be settled in time-bound manner: Revenue Minister Negi

Directions have been issued for the settlement of claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in a time-bound manner, said Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi in an exclusive interview with The Tribune in Dharamsala today.

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Negi said that directions had been issued that the sub-divisional level committees (SDLC) and the district level committees (DLCs) formed in the state should settle claims submitted by people within two weeks. “Gram sabhas should settle the claims of people within a month. The government will honour officials who settle the claims of people under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, within a stipulated time while the officials who delay the clearance of claims will be punished,” he added.

The minister said that many people had an impression that the Forest Rights Act, 2006, was applicable to tribal areas only. However, any person who could prove that he was using forestland traditionally through generations till 2005 could claim its title under the law. Once the title of the forestland under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, was issued to people, they could use and even build houses on it, he added.

About more than 300 cases submitted under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and pending in Kangra district for the past many years, Negi said that the issue had come to his notice and he had directed the officials concerned to settle all such claims as early as possible.

Earlier, the minister presided over a workshop organised to train the revenue officials of Kangra, Chamba and Una districts in processing and settling the claims of people under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. All revenue officials, including Deputy Commissioners, SDMs and Tehsildars, participated in the workshop.

The Forest Rights Act, 2006, gives rights to traditional communities to make a judicious use of forest resources where they had been dwelling since centuries. Forest rights have been given to migratory communities in some areas but still a lot needs to be done.

As per the procedure, people can claim their forest rights in their own gram sabha. The gram sabha concerned and local revenue officials have to endorse the claim. Thereafter, the claim is put before a sub-divisional level committee headed by the SDM. After the sub-divisional level committee accepts the claim, it is put before the district level committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner, who approves and finally allots the title under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, to a person or community.

In Kangra and Chamba districts, people claiming right to make a judicious use of forest resources in their areas are generally traditional Gaddi and Gujjar shepherds, who have been migrating with their flocks of sheep and cattle in forests for centuries. These communities, which have been living in harmony with forests, are facing challenges now, as forest and wildlife officials are forcing them out of their traditional grazing grounds. In the recent past, Gujjars were not allowed to take their cattle to pastures that fall under the Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary and in the forest areas of Chamba district. Gaddi shepherds are facing similar challenges in the Dhauladhar wildlife sanctuary area in Chotta Bhangal in Kangra district.