Bhubaneswar: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Satyabrata Sahu has asked all the District Collectors to follow the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023.
After passing of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in Parliament, the Government of India notified the amended Act on August 4, 2013.
“The amended Act, clearly specifies & defines Forest. The concept of deemed forest is now removed. All forest lands diverted for non-forest purposes by an authority/ agency of the Government, before 12/12/1996 will not attract the provision of FC Act,” the ACS Shri Sahu said in his letter to all the District Collectors on 11 August.
Subject to terms and conditions to be issued by the Government of India, any survey or explorations shall not be treated as non-forestry activities, ACS DoFE&CC said.
The Collectors have been asked to see that Forest Diversion proposals pertaining to their District especially for the Government developmental projects are formulated and submitted as per the provisions of the amended Act immediately.
It will fasttrack the development projects in the State, said PCCF Nodal, Susanta Nanda, who is regularly monitoring the progress.
