Southern States
-
Kerala
Forest Dept. objects to land allotment
By Our Staff Reporter
KOCHI, JAN. 21. In an affidavit filed before a Kerala High Court Division Bench, which will have a bearing on the proposal to distribute forest land to tribals in the State, especially in the Marayoor area, the Forest Department has taken objection to steps taken by the Idukki District Collector to assign 27 hectares of forest land in Marayur village to Perumanoorchal evictees.
In an affidavit filed in response to a writ petition against the assignment of forest land, the Munnar DFO said the land in survey no. 277/1 of Marayur village was a notified sandalwood reserve forest.
The decision was taken without obtaining sanction from the Central Government as stipulated by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The action of the Collector was an offence under Section 38 of the Act. It was originally forest land, he said.
The Forest Department disputed the contention that it was revenue land. The affidavit had stated that the land had never been under the possession of the Revenue Department. It was in fact a notified sandalwood reserve area, it said.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Southern States
|
