“As on May 31, 2022, a total of 26,867 individual rights titles covering an extent of 35521.19 acres, 495 development rights covering an area of 181.33 acres and 183 community rights titles have been issued by the State under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006,” Kerala said.
The Act recognises the traditional forest dwellers’ rights and occupation of forest land since generations. The law also provides for development rights to forest dwellers like schools, anganwadis, fair price shops, drinking water supply, vocational training centres, etc.
Kerala noted that its population density was twice that of the entire country according to the 2011 census.
"Human habitations are there in the areas coming within one km of the protected areas," the review petition said. Large number of small and medium townships with human habitations and attendant facilities had developed, decades ago, within the vicinity of the protected areas and within the proposed buffer zone of one km.
Further, the judgment would affect the assignment of entire parcels of land by the State under the Kerala Land Assignment (Regularisation of Occupations of Forest Lands Prior to 01-1-1977) Special Rules of 1993.
‘Shock absorber’
In June, the top court, in its judgment, referred to Environment Ministry guidelines highlighting that ESZs around national parks, forests and sanctuaries would function as a “shock absorber” for the protected areas. These zones would act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to those involving lesser protection.
The Supreme Court had noted how the nation’s national resources were ravaged for years together by mining and other 0activities.
The judgment had observed that the government should not confine its role to that of a “facilitator” of economic activities for the “immediate upliftment of the fortunes of the State.”
https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/MShareArticle?OrgId=GRLA5OJVN.1&imageview=0
അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളൊന്നുമില്ല:
ഒരു അഭിപ്രായം പോസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യൂ