VAN ADHINIYAM 1980 (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)
Context: The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has reprimanded the Odisha government for building walls, without approval, in forest land that will be part of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri.
o The FAC assesses projects under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, aimed at safeguarding forests from undue destruction.
Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam/Forest Conservation Act - 1980
- About: An Act to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.
- Extent: It extends to the whole of India.
- Provisions of the Act:
o Land declared or notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or any other law.
o Land recorded as forest in Government records as of or after 25th October, 1980.
- Exemptions (Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023):
o Forest land alongside a rail line or public road maintained by the Government providing access to habitation, up to 0.10 hectare.
o Trees, tree plantations, or reafforestation on lands not specified in the main provisions.
o Forest land within 100 kilometers along international borders or other strategic areas used for national security projects.
o Up to ten hectares used for security-related infrastructure.
o Land used for defence projects or camps for paramilitary forces in Left Wing Extremism affected areas, up to five hectares.
- Restrictions on Use
o No State Government or other authority shall, without prior approval of the Central Government:
o Make any reserved forest cease to be reserved.
o Use forest land for non-forest purposes.
o Assign forest land by lease or otherwise to any private person or organization..
- Permitted: Forest land can be used for specified agricultural purposes and reafforestation efforts.
- Legal Recourse: Appeals against State Government decisions under this Act can be made to the National Green Tribunal, as per the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
- Penalties: Violations of the Act's provisions may lead to simple imprisonment for up to fifteen days.
