Jhagadia MLA and Bharatiya Tribal Party supremo Chhotu Vasava has written to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanding fast elimination of encroachments from forest lands throughout Gujarat, citing a current report by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Estimating that 292.38 hectares of forest land is encroached upon in Gujarat, Vasava expressed satisfaction that the state has allowed “powerful stalwarts of political organizations” to occupy the land for resorts and different industrial actions, together with unlawful mining. The sort has made the forests “the cause of destruction”. in addition to their tribal residents.
He mentioned, “It is a known fact that many stalwarts and powerful persons associated with parties, mining operators (mine industry), industrialists, resort owners etc. have illegally felled trees and completed illegal construction of resorts, structures. Illegal. Mining, exploited forest land which comes under non-agricultural category, thus making fun of the laws existing to protect forest land.”
Quoting MoEFCC knowledge, Vasava mentioned, “If such encroachments and damage to forest land are not immediately arrested, the next generation will be pushed into an era where they will struggle to take oxygen. The forest range in Gujarat has not been measured for many years and it is imperative that mapping is done at the earliest to identify encroachments and remove them to protect the forests.”
Stating that legal guidelines for defense of forests are being misused towards tribals, Vasava wrote, “Despite the data of the federal government, no authorized motion has been taken towards the land mining mafia and the thieves of forest land. These legal guidelines are solely to harass the tribals residing within the forest land. However, such uncontrolled encroachment on forests just isn’t solely a risk to the survival of the tribal neighborhood but additionally to the state and the general inhabitants of the nation.
Meanwhile, BJP chief and Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasava has claimed that the voice of tribals just isn’t being heard within the state meeting. Addressing a tribal program at Rajpipla in Narmada district on Sunday, the MP mentioned, “No one listens to the tribals in the state assembly. Crores of rupees are spent for the development of tribals but nothing reaches the tribals. Most of the MPs and MLAs who fight for reserved seats aim to increase their wealth without worrying about the welfare of the tribals. But even if so many MLAs and MPs won by contesting on the reserved seats, they do not open their mouths. But I speak only what is true. If you have won the reserved seat, then you should stand up for their rights.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
