Environmentalists oppose diluting Kerala's proposed stringent laws against forest offences

Thiruvananthapuram: Environmentalists have raised concerns over Kerala left-front government's move to dilute the stringent provisions in the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill by succumbing to pressure from various political parties, churches, high range farmers and residents near forest areas.

In a representation given to the state forest department, the Wayanad Prakruti Samrakshana Samiti (WPPS), a forum of environmentalists, pointed out that the back-to-back natural calamities and frequent man-animal conflicts were the outcome of illegal activities in the forest areas. Hence the government should go ahead with the proposed amendments that warrants stringent punishments for illegal activities in forests.

The CPM government in Kerala already introduced the draft bill, which not only enhances the punishments for illegal activities in forest areas but also empowers low ranking officers to act against forest offenders.

With high range farmers and inhabitants near forest areas raising concern over many provisions like powers to forest officials to arrest offenders without warrant, various churches and political parties strongly backed the demand.

Apart from Congress and other Opposition parties, Kerala Congress (Mani), which is a coalition partner of the ruling Left Democratic Front, had also raised the demand to withdraw the stringent provisions. A delegation led by Kerala Congress (M) chairman Rajya Sabha MP Jose K Mani called on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and raised the demand.

Subsequently Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran indicated that the stringent provisions in the bill will be reviewed.

WPPS President N Badusha said in the representation to the Kerala Forest Department that the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill would be a crucial step towards reversing the destruction of forests and promoting sustainable management. Kerala could set a global precedent by passing the bill without diluting its provisions, he said.

The key provisions in the bill are - increasing fines for the destruction of forest resources, measures to protect lakes and water bodies within and outside forest areas, regulate human activities, such as fishing using explosives, dumping plastic waste, and entering forests with weapons to minimise harm to the environment and wildlife.

Environmentalists also pointed out that most of the fatal man-animal conflicts reported in the state happened in reserve forests.