Laws Governing Forests of the Northeast

September 6, 2023

GS Paper II Indian Polity and Governance

Context:

Recently, the Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, “to protect the rights and interest of the people of Mizoram”.

Why did the Mizoram Assembly unanimously pass a resolution?

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, allows the diversion of forest land for roads, railway lines or “strategic linear projects of national importance and concerning national security” within 100 km of India’s international borders or lines of control, without a forest clearance as envisaged under the Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) 1980.
Most of India’s Northeast falls in this 100 km range.

Premises upon which Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed a resolution:

Special Constitutional protection – Article 371G for Mizoram: It prohibits the application of any law enacted by Parliament that impinges on Mizo customary law and procedure, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
Such laws can be extended to these States only if their Legislative Assemblies decide thus in a resolution.

For More Details: Refer July 27, 2023 Daily Gist: Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023

News Source: The Hindu