Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Dec 1: The Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement today said that the Government must stop issuing eviction notices to the forest dwellers of union territory.
A delegation of the Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement led by Chairman Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat today visited the affected villages of Batwodder Bonen in Doodh Ganga Forest range of Budgam district where the Government has issued eviction notices to the traditional forest dwellers asking them to evict from the land which was allotted to them under ” Grow more Food program” by the Government of J&K more than 70 years back.
In a statement, the RTI Movement said that for the last several weeks Forest Department officials are issuing eviction notices under Section 79-A of Forest Act 1927 to people living in the vicinity of forests in many villages of Jammu and Kashmir particularly in Batwodder Bonen, Jabad Branwar , Kutbal , Tamun, Leddan, Nagbal , Kandajan, and many other areas of Budgam district and some other districts of the union territory.
It added that Under FRA 2006 people living near forests have rights on the forest land provided they did not make its commercial use and have been living in the area for more than 75 years. “The people residing in forest areas are mentally frustrated after getting eviction notices issued by the Forest Department as they have been living in these respective areas for ages and Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA 2006) gives them legal protection. The FRA 2006 has been extended to J&K post article 370 abrogation but not being implemented,” Dr. Muzaffar said.
He added recently the Chief Secretary in a meeting with top officials assured that the law would be implemented in the UT of J&K soon but on the other hand eviction notices are being issued.
He further said Under Forest Rights Act 2006 members of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other forest dwellers in the forests have the right over forest land for habitation or self-cultivation or livelihood. “The Act also allows the use of forest land for developing government facilities, including schools, minor water bodies, and hospitals, on the recommendation of local Panchayat through the Deh Majlis or Gram Sabha. He said Limitation Act 1963 also gives local dwellers right to cultivate and possess the land said as Govt hasn’t issued any notice to people in past 30 years or more,” Muzaffar said.
He appealed Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary B V R Subramanium to intervene.
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