As the House took up for discussion the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) Bill which could pave the way for funds unto the tune of Rs 42,000 crore to be unlocked, Ramesh said while he supports the important legislation, he also has a "problem" with it.
"My problem with the Bill is that it ignores the Forest Rights Act of 2006," Ramesh said.
The former Environment and Forests Minister said that in its present form, the legislation introduced by the BJP-led government empowers state governments and forest departments but "does not empower forest dwellers, tribals or gram sabhas."
Appealing to different political parties, Ramesh proposed an amendment suggesting that CAMPA funds should be used only in consonance with the implementation of Forest Rights Act.
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"It should be ensured that, without the permission of gram sabhas, no expenditure is allowed in the CAMPA funds," he said.
Ramesh also claimed that in some states which had BJP-led
governments, the rights of forest dwellers were being taken away.
He also mentioned a "gazette notification" of the Maharashtra government which he said allowed the forest departments to take away forest rights of communities.
The Congress leader claimed that wherever BJP governments are in power, such community rights suffer.
Ramesh said that even the Union Environment forest ministry has paved the way for private participation in forests through PPP. On one hand it is said PPP has failed, on other hand they are being allowed in forests, he said.
Ramesh also said the Tribal Affairs minister should have been present during the discussion.
In his speech Ramesh also said that under the Forest Rights Act, thousands of individual and community titles were cleared though he expressed dissatisfaction saying there was also a high rate of rejection of such applications.
The discussion on the bill would continue tomorrow.