Strategic projects and land clearance

More often than not, many projects of strategic importance get unnecessarily dragged on , delayed and turning costlier etc due to not getting land in time for execution process because of intricacies of revenue related processes, forest lands and NOCs from other departments. Raising and developing border infrastructure on forest land, in particular, needs approval from several agencies under the Government. Red-tape and absence of the required coordination between departments, on the other hand, result in further delay caused to such important projects. Changes and adopting means and methods conducive to the status of projects must be brought in to ensure hassles free execution and speed even if legislative intervention too was thought to be necessary for the said purpose.
Keeping the above in view, the Government has very rightly decided to do away with the rigid provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, perceived as an impediment in the process, and bring about necessary amendments in it so that seeking prior approval from the Government was not made mandatory. This decision is really aimed at taking on the lengthy and tedious procedural process to fill the much sensitive objective of keeping our borders fit , ”ready” and intact in the larger interests of the security and sovereignty of the country. Security concerns must reign supreme and procedures and precedence come only next in such sensitive and strategic projects. The Government has, therefore, proposed to call all states to fall in line and permit non forest use of forest land with intent to implementation of security related and strategic projects.