THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC president K Sudhakaran said the draft notification amending the Kerala Forest Act is against the interests of farmers and tribal people, and hence it should be withdrawn immediately.
Amending the Forest Act of 1961 to give forest officials excessive powers equivalent to the police increases the potential for misuse.
Allowing forest guards with excessive authority to conduct searches, make arrests, and detain individuals without a warrant will negatively impact farmers and indigenous communities. The govt’s draft amendment to the forest law poses a severe threat to those who are already living in fear of wildlife attacks, he said.
There is suspicion that this new amendment proposal is part of a conspiracy to evict farmers living near forest borders. The amendment, which criminalises activities like collecting firewood, grazing livestock, fishing, and bathing in rivers, is nothing but anti-people.
This is a misguided amendment proposal by the CPM govt, which has already troubled farmers with a one-kilometre buffer zone status and construction bans.
Farmers are waiting to see what stance the Kerala Congress headed by Jose K Mani, which is part of the ruling front, will take, he said.
The draft notification of the forest law amendment, affecting over 1.25 crore farmers in 430 panchayats bordering forests in the state, should be withdrawn. Otherwise, the farmers will be forced to protest against the govt decision, the KPCC President warned.
