Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023

Why in news?

• Lok Sabha has passed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill. The Bill was introduced to amend the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Highlights of the Bill

• The Bill amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to make it applicable to certain types of land.  
• These include land notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or in government records after the 1980 Act came into effect.  The Act will not be applicable for land converted to non-forest use before December 12, 1996.
• It also exempts certain types of land from the purview of the Act. These include land within 100 km of India’s border needed for national security projects, small roadside amenities, and public roads leading to a habitation.
• The state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign any forest land to a private entity.  The Bill extends this to all entities, and allows the assignment to be made on terms and conditions specified by the central government.
• The Act specifies some activities that can be carried out in forests, such as establishing check posts, fencing, and bridges.  The Bill also allows running zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023’:

1. It allows eco-tourism facilities within forest land

2. The state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign any forest land to a private entity

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer