In the wake of the Maharashtra government announcing plans to sell surplus forest products to Baba Ramdev’s firm, the Congress on Thursday attacked the Centre for allowing the state to exercise absolu
In the wake of the Maharashtra government announcing plans to sell surplus forest products to Baba Ramdev’s firm, the Congress on Thursday attacked the Centre for allowing the state to exercise absolute control over forest produce sale, alleging it is a “total dilution” of Forests Rights Act. In a letter to Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram, Ahm-ed Patel also accused the government of a “U-turn” by his ministry on the issue of forest produce. He said that he has learnt that the Central ministry has allowed the Maharashtra government to exercise absolute control over forest management and sale of forest produce.
“This amounts to nothing but a total dilution of a legislation passed by parliament-the Forest Rights Act, 2006 - through executive discretion,” he said.
Mr Patel said that the “irony” was that the tribal villages of Maharashtra were the first to benefit due to the enactment of the Forests Rights Act.
