Lok Sabha passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 on Wednesday amidst opposition protests in the Parliament regarding the Manipur issue.
The bill seeks to exempt land within 100 km of the country's borders from the purview of the forest conservation laws and permit the setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas.
Before the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill-2023 was passed, people questioned it leading to a debate which was responded to by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after the passage of the bill, which amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, amid continued protests by opposition members over the ethnic violence in Manipur.
What is the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023?
The bill has provisions that exclude specific types of land from its application. These include forest land adjacent to a railway line or a public road that is maintained by the government and gives access to a dwelling or a railway, as well as roadside amenities that are no larger than 0.10 hectares.
The exemption for forest land will also apply to land located within 100 km of international borders, the Line of Control, or the Line of Actual Control, which is intended for the construction of strategic linear projects that are of national importance or security.
The exemption also applies to land parcels of up to 10 hectares that are intended for constructing security-related infrastructure or defence-related projects, including camps for paramilitary forces. Additionally, public utility projects specified by the central government that do not exceed five hectares within a left-wing extremism-affected area are also exempted.
