SignIn
Kerala Kaumudi Online
Friday, 14 February 2025 4.17 AM IST

Wisdom that dawned late

Increase Font Size Decrease Font Size Print Page
forest-amendment-bill

The government has withdrawn the controversial Forest Amendment Bill granting excessive powers to forest department officials following strong opposition from people living in hilly areas of the state. The amendment bill was intended to be introduced during the budget session. However, the severe concerns raised by people from numerous panchayats bordering forest areas and the intense protests against the bill seem to have opened the government's eyes. In any democratic governance, it is imperative to respect the will of the people. By abandoning the move to introduce the forest amendment bill, the government has demonstrated that it stands with the people. It appears that neither the legal experts who drafted the bill nor the government that planned to present and pass it in the assembly considered the consequences of such an amendment.

The severe provisions of the bill make its implications clear to anyone who reads it. One of the most contentious clauses grants forest officials, ranging from Beat Forest Officers upwards, the power to arrest and detain individuals who enter forest areas without a magistrate's order or warrant. Anyone can infer how much a section like this can be misused. It's well-known that forest department officials are no less than police when it comes to framing false cases. The bill also included a provision requiring permission from the forest department to cut and sell sandalwood trees grown on private property. The provision in the Amendment Bill is such that if someone steals a sandalwood tree, the owner of the property will be held responsible.

Provisions for heavy fines for offences such as depositing waste in forests and harassing wildlife were also part of the bill. Discussions regarding the forest amendment law have been ongoing for twelve years. Attempts to introduce the bill were made several times but never succeeded. When the draft bill was recently released, thousands of families residing near forest areas launched fierce protests. The Kerala Congress (Mani Group), a key constituent of the ruling front, took a firm stance, making it clear to the Chief Minister that they would not accept any amendment that would disrupt their areas of influence. With upcoming local body elections and the state assembly elections early next year in mind, leaders within the ruling front who recognized the potential political fallout also pushed for withdrawing the amendment. Consequently, the cabinet decided to abandon the move to introduce the amendment.

This decision is unlikely to cause any major setbacks for the government. On the contrary, it may yield benefits in the upcoming elections. As the Chief Minister stated, every law is meant for the people. However, the fact remains that the amendment bill was drafted without considering the people's needs.

Kerala is the state that has recorded the highest forest growth in the country. At the same time, it is also the state with the highest population density. The diminishing distance between forests and human settlements is a direct result of increasing population density. Incidents of wildlife attacks and the resulting casualties have also been steadily rising. It is important to recognize that tackling this threat is not an easy task. As human settlements encroach closer to forests, conflicts with wildlife will only intensify. It is crucial to collectively deliberate and implement measures to address this challenge effectively.

TAGS: KERALA, FOREST AMENDMENT BILL
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
KERALA KAUMUDI EPAPER
X
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.