representative image Nagpur: The Forest Advisory Committee ,F.A.C.), a statutory body under MOEFCChas said ‘no’ to residential projects private forest landand recently postponed a proposal thain In Maharashtra.
The state nodal officer, despite strongly advocating for a builder’s plea for a residential colony on 10.685 hectares of private forest land at Walshet in Thane district, faced rejection from the FAC. The consolidated guidelines issued under the Forest (Conservation and Promotion) Act, 1980 provide that the use of forest areas for setting up industries, construction of residential colonies, institutions, rehabilitation of displaced persons, etc. are non-site-specific activities and Cannot be considered. As a rule on forest land.
“The Central Government will not consider any proposal for diversion of forest land for construction of residential or habitation houses. However, the Government has permitted construction of residential houses in its private forest land for construction of residential or habitation houses “The Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) areas of Uttarakhand as well as the private areas (deemed forests) of Goa are subject to certain conditions,” the FAC says.
Construction activities on private forest lands in Uttarakhand and Goa are limited to a maximum of 250 square meters of built-up area in each case. However, this rule is not applicable in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra nodal officer stressed that the FAC had in the past considered such clearance on private forest lands on a case-by-case basis. However, the panel members clarified that after the new notification of the Forest (Conservation and Promotion) Act, 1980, the field offices are not considering such proposals.
FAC has made it clear that the WAN (Protection and Promotion) Act 1980, the rules and guidelines made thereunder shall be fully applicable, and no provision shall be made with respect to the applicability of the Site Specification by any user agency in lieu of non-grant. Rebate cannot be claimed. Forest land and net present value (NPV) payment for compensatory afforestation (CA) as done earlier.
FAC suggested that if the Government of Maharashtra wishes to submit a proposal regarding diversion of private forest land, a detailed proposal with full justification, especially site specificity, may be submitted to the Union Environment Ministry. All such proposals will be dealt with on a case-to-case basis as per the rules and guidelines and orders of the Supreme Court.
