Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 1: For implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir, the J&K Government has constituted monitoring committees at UT level, District level and Sub-Division level.
The UT Level Monitoring Committee, headed by Chief Secretary J&K as its Chairperson, shall devise criteria and indicators for monitoring the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights.
It shall meet at least once in three months to monitor the process of recognition, verification and vesting of forest rights, consider and address the field level problems and furnish a quarterly report in this regard to the Central Government on their assessment regarding the status of claims, the compliance with the steps required under the Act, details of claims approved, reasons for rejection, if any, and the status of pending claims.
This committee shall also take appropriate action on receipt of a notice against the concerned authorities, in terms of Section 8 of the Act, and monitor resettlement under sub-section (2) of Section 4 of the Act.
The District level Committees, headed by the respective Deputy Commissioner, shall ensure that the requisite information under clause (b) of rule 6 has been provided to Gram Sabha or forest Rights Committee. It shall examine whether all claims, especially those of primitive tribal groups, pastoralists and nomadic tribes, have been addressed keeping in minds the objectives of the Act.
The DLC shall coordinate with other districts regarding inter-district claims and consider and finally approve the claims and record of forest rights prepared by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee. It shall also hear petitions from persons aggrieved by the orders of the Sub-Divisional Level Committee.
The DLCs shall issue directions for incorporation of the forest rights in the relevant Government records and ensure publication of the same besides providing a certified copy of the record to concerned Gram Sabha.
The Sub-Divisional Level Committees, headed by the concerned SDM or ADC, shall provide information to each Gram Sabha about their duties and duties of holder of forest rights and others towards protection of wildlife, forest and biodiversity with reference to critical flora and fauna which need to be conserved and protected. It shall provide forest and revenue maps and electoral rolls to the Gram Sabha or the Forest Rights Committee and adjudicate disputes between gram Sabhas on the nature and extent of any forest rights.
The Dub-Divisional Level Committees shall prepare block or tehsil wise draft record of proposed forest rights after reconciliation of Government records and forward the claims with the draft record of proposed forest rights through Sub-Divisional officer to the district Level Committee for final decision.
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