Exemption from Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023: Nagaland Assembly passes resolution

The House resolved that the Act will only be applicable to the State subject to the Constitutional guarantees provided in Article 371 (A)

The Nagaland Assembly today passed a 11-Point resolution seeking exemption from the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023.

Nagaland Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CL John introduced the resolution in the Floor of the House on the last day of the ongoing monsoon session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

After introduction of the 11-point resolution, the 14th House of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolved that the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 will only be applicable to the State subject to the Constitutional guarantees provided in Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India.

The House also resolved that the Government of India must assure that provisions contained in Section 1 (A) (2) of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 shall not be used to the detriment of the state and its people.

The House further resolved to explore various options including the State enacting its own Act for the purpose of having its own compensatory mechanism wherein any diversion of even private or community owned forest land for non-forestry purposes and damage to environment is suitably compensated by the user agency, in addition to availment of benefits of the existing schemes of the Central Government in this regard.

The Nagaland assembly on Monday had opposed the implementation of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act and sought protection under the Aticle 371A.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while taking part in the discussions in the Assembly on the matter had suggested that the House can pass a resolution appealing to the Centre to ‘totally exempt’ Nagaland from the purview of Forest Conservation Amendment Act.

Also Read: Nagaland Assembly’s Monsoon Session Day 2: CM Rio introduces New Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023

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