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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Tuesday, 18 February 2025 6.34 PM IST

Govt decides to withhold Forest Amendment Bill; will not proceed with amendments without addressing concerns raised by public, says CM

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pinarayi-vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the state government has decided to withhold the controversial Forest Amendment Bill in the wake of the growing public concern. Speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister said that the proposal to amend the Forest Act originated during the tenure of the UDF government. He said that several concerns are existing in the society regarding the amendment.

"The proposed amendments to the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 were initiated in 2013 during the term of the UDF government. The proposed amendments criminalize deliberate trespassing into forest areas, travelling through forests, or parking vehicles within forest regions. Subsequent actions followed this initial move. The government will not proceed with the amendments without addressing the concerns raised by the public," the CM said.

"The government does not intend to implement any laws that go against the legitimate interests of farmers and residents of hilly regions. The government's stance is that any law is meant for the benefit of humans. This principle also applies to forest conservation laws. Measures will be taken to protect the public from wildlife attacks, and no amendments that cause public anxiety will be introduced by the government. Therefore, the government does not plan to continue with the Forest Act amendment process. Moreover, making such amendments is not solely within the purview of the state government," the Chief Minister clarified.

"Wildlife attacks continue to claim lives in the state, with a fatal incident reported in Malappuram district today. According to preliminary information, Sarojini from Uchakkulam was reportedly attacked while grazing goats in the forest. The loss of human and livestock lives due to wildlife attacks is deeply saddening. The government is contemplating ways to permanently address this issue. The primary obstacle in tackling wildlife attacks is the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Section 11(1)(a) of the Act and the stringent regulations imposed by the central government under it pose significant challenges. This Act, enacted by Parliament under Article 252 of the Constitution, cannot be amended solely by the state government. Under current circumstances, it is not possible to shoot and eliminate dangerous wildlife under the provisions of criminal law," he said.

"Given these constraints, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to amend the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and ease the stringent controls and procedures enforced under it. The central government must understand the ground realities of the state and take appropriate action. Members of Parliament from the state must take the initiative to address this issue," the Chief Minister added.

TAGS: FOREST AMENDMENT BILL, KERALA GOVERNMENT, KERALA, PINARAYI VIJAYAN
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