Assam: Cabinet, not department, to approve any changes to protected forest areas

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: In a significant move aimed at enhancing oversight on environmental conservation at the highest executive level, the Assam government has decided that any proposal concerning changes to the status or boundaries of protected areas will now require mandatory approval from the Cabinet before implementation.

A new directive issued by the state Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department concerns tightening the process for declaring, amending, or de-notifying protected areas such as Reserved Forests, Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, Conservation Reserves, and Eco-Sensitive Zones.

According to an official memorandum, actions under the Assam Forest Regulation 1891 and the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, involving changes to the status or boundaries of protected areas, have far-reaching implications and necessitate thorough deliberation at the highest executive level.

In view of this, any proposals concerning the declaration, modification, or de-notification of protected areas must be submitted for approval of the Cabinet prior to implementation.

It is also stated that the Environment & Forest Department must not take any such actions independently at the departmental level without Cabinet approval.

The directive has been circulated to key forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chief Wildlife Warden, ensuring they are informed and equipped for compliance. Also, that this new policy is being enforced with immediate effect.

In a related development, another directive has been issued by the state Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department regarding the appointment of a nodal officer to facilitate the implementation of MoUs signed by the department with potential investors during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit.

It is stated that during the recently concluded investment summit, a total of 31 MOUs had been signed by the department with the interested investors. For facilitating the grounding of their projects in Assam, Rohini Ballave Saikia, DCF (A) in the office of PCCF (Wildlife), has been notified as the Nodal Officer of the Department for the necessary follow-up of these MOUs and to bring them to their logical conclusion.

Also read: Conservation of Biodiversity in Guwahati Forests

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