Forest rights: DC directs for quick clearance of forms

Deputy Commissioner S P Shadakshari Swamy asked the officials to dispose the applications submitted by the tribal and traditional forest dwellers, in connection with the guaranteeing of Forest rights, as soon as  possible.

Chairing the district level review committee meeting on Forest rights implementation committee, at Zilla Panchayat Hall in Chikkamagaluru on Tuesday, he said that 2164 applications, comprising those submitted by 2139 individuals and 25 communities, have been pending for the disposal. These applications should be cleared and the forest rights should be awarded to the beneficiaries as soon as possible.

Permission will be given only for agriculture, in the land availed as per the Forest Rights Act. There is no right to transfer the land. Hence, while disposing off the files, the necessary documents must be scrutinised thoroughly.

Also, while considering the applications related to communities, it should be ensured that the requested land is related towards the use of hospital, school, anganwadi or other public purposes. The Forest Department should recognise the rights towards forest products.

Departments of Forests, Revenue and Rural Development should work in coordination towards the disposal of forest rights applications.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr R Ragapriya, Assistant Commissioner R Snehal, Sangappa, ITDC officer Lalitha Bai, DCF Manik, Basavarajaiah, Tahsildars of all taluks, Forest Department officials, Panchayat Development Officers and district level implementation officers were present.