A grouping of environmental organisations, including forest right activists and some wildlife groups, have sought withdrawal of the guidelines even as environment minister Jairam Ramesh has called a meeting this week to explain the ministry's position on the new guidelines.
Apart from environment groups, officials from the ministry of Tribal Affairs, who are not happy with the guidelines and forest department officials have also been called for the meeting.
“The guidelines are in total violation of the Forest Rights Act," said Ashish Kothari of NGO Kalpavriksh, after Ramesh issued a clarification on the purpose of the guidelines. The ministry had issued the guidelines in February this year, after which Ramesh issued a clarificatory note, but it has failed to pacify the agitating environmental activists.
“The guidelines should be withdrawn. There is a need for a wider discussion on CWH process and approach," Kothari, said in a representation submitted on behalf of environmental groups to Ramesh. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
