Union govt. seeks ‘factual report’ on forest rights complaint concerning Nicobar project, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Union government seeks a factual report from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration regarding forest rights.
• The inquiry concerns the diversion of approximately 13,000 hectares for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar Island project in August 2022.
• The Tribal Council alleges that forest rights were not settled before the land diversion.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked for a report addressing the Tribal Council's concerns.

Detailed Insights:

• The Tribal Council claims that the administration falsely certified that all rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 were settled before diverting forest land.
• The council asserts that their consent was obtained under pressure and later withdrawn, contradicting the administration's stance in monthly FRA progress reports.
• The administration argues that the FRA is unnecessary because the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, 1956 already protects tribespeople's rights, enabling unilateral forest land diversion.
• Concerns over the project have been raised by political figures, prompting further scrutiny of the project's impact on tribal rights and environmental considerations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006: An act to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation of forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
• Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, 1956: An act to provide protection to aboriginal tribes and enables the administration to unilaterally divert forest land.