MLFOA Seeks Exemption And Amendment of Forest Act 1927

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The central body of the Meghalaya Land Forest Owners’ Association (MLFOA) at its meeting to discuss the proposed amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA) 1927, has urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the State government to exempt and amend these central laws on forest, biodiversity, etc., given the ground reality that these laws do not recognize the various types of landholding and the hundreds of cubic feet of timber required annually in the over 3,000 villages within the 54 Himas in Khasi Hills and 19 Elakas in Jaintia Hills for various wood-based activities such as house construction, house repair, and furniture, among others.

While appreciating the Forest Department of the State, including the officials the Additional PCCF, the CFO, DFO (T) and other officials for convening the meeting to discuss the draft Indian Forest Act 1927, the MLFOA also expressed their appreciation to Tienwell Dkhar, MDC and Chief Executive Member (CEM), KHADC for notifying a committee of 17 members, including the respective representatives of MLAs and MDCs from KHADC, the stakeholders from MLFOA and the Federation of Khasi States (FKS) to deliberate on the proposed draft Indian Forest Act 1927.

The MLFOA has also decided to collaborate with the committee constituted by the KHADC and to urge the present MDCs of the KHADC to make effort to resolve this long pending issues relating to conflict with Central legislation for the last 39 years since passing of the Forest Conservation Act 1980, and till date almost all forest wood-based activities are functioning illegally.

They will also soon submit a memo to the KHADC Committee relating to the draft Indian forest Act 1927, after approval of the central body, and the general meeting of MLFOA and other like-minded associations.

Also Read: Sikkim Legislative Assembly Passes Sikkim Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Bill