Bhubaneswar: As per instructions of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC) Department, Satyabrata Sahu has directed all Collectors to formulate and submit Forest Diversion Proposals pertaining to their Districts.
The directives are specially for the Government developmental projects, as per the provisions of the amended Act immediately, a press release by the FE&CC Department stated.
The move follows the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, that has been published in the Gazette of India on August 4.
Below are the Salient Features of the Amendment Act:
1. The amended Act, clearly specifies & defines Forest. The concept of deemed forest is now removed.
2. All forest lands diverted for non-forest purpose by an authority/ agency of the Government, before 12/12/1996 will not attract FC Act.
3. Subject to terms & conditions to be issued by GoI, any survey or explorations shall not be treated as non-forestry activities.
