14 years later, J&K to implement Forest Rights Act by March 1st 2021

Jammu Nov, 19 (PTK) A week after the eviction drive, the Jammu and Kashmir government will implement The Forest Rights Act 2006 which was not enforced in J&K from the past 14 years. J&K is all set to implement the Forest Rights Law on 1st March, 2021.

Under this act the forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes along with other traditional forest dwellers will have the right over forest land.

Last week, J&K Administration had launched a drive to knock down homes and seasonal hutments in the upper areas of Pahalgam, Anantnag, calling it “illegally occupied” forest land. PDP leader and Former CM Mehbooba Mufti came forward and opposed this action of UT accusing it as a witch-hunt against these Muslim tribes and stating it a part of the “process of disempowerment and displacement that started with the abrogation of J&K’s special status”.

Just 2 days after the visit of Mehbooba Mufti to the nomadic tribal families in Anantnag district of South Kashmir, the UT administration set the date of granting Forest Rights in J&K.

This step of development is aimed at recognising the rights of nomadic Gujjars and Bakarwals across the UT and this topic came at a meeting attended by the Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to review the implementation of the ST and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006.(PTK)