Centre Seeks Expression of Interest for Draft Amendment to Indian Forest Act
The Union environment ministry has called for expression of interest from consulting agencies, firms, joint venture consortiums to prepare a new draft amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927. In an office memorandum on April 26, the ministry said it extended the date for submission of proposals after the deadline for it ended that day. The new deadline now is May 6.
The ministry published an amended draft of the Indian Forest Act in 2019, which included so-called "production" forests, mainly of timber, pulp, pulpwood and other non-forest produce, in its definition of forests. One of the principal concerns of tribal groups and activists was that the provisions of the zero draft amendment 2019 gave more powers to forest officers, including the use of firearms and greater immunity from prosecution. Following protests by tribals, the draft amendment was withdrawn.