AndhraNews.Net - Eviction of tribals from forests

New Delhi: August 18, 2003

The Ministry of Environment & Forests have informed that there is no plan to evict tribals from the forest areas. But encroachment is an offence under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and it has to be dealt according to the provisions of the said Act and the State Forest Acts for the time being in force. The Central Government had issued guidelines in 1990 after approval of the Union Cabinet for regularisation of pre-1980 eligible encroachments. These guidelines interalia also had a provision to review the cases of disputed claims of tribals over forest lands and examine the genuineness of the claims, for which the State/UT Government should constitute a Committee comprising of a Revenue Officer, concerned Divisional Forest Officer and an official from Tribal Welfare Department.

The above information was given by the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram today in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to the question by Shri P.K. Maheshwari.

Press Release by: PIB/CRM/AMA -LSQ