Question : FOREST RIGHTS ACT

(a) the number and details of plywood industries located in North-Eastern States of the country;

(b) the quantum of timber offtake in the country, State-wise including North-Eastern States;

(c) whether the Government proposes to relax the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in respect of the North-Eastern States so that the livelihood of the tribes based upon wood and wood related industries is not deterimentally affected;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN):

(a) The number and details of plywood industries located in North-Eastern States of the country as reported by concerned States are given in Annexure I.

(b) As per the compilation done by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, (ICFRE), Dehradun, the quantum of timber offtake in the country, State-wise including North-Eastern States is given in Annexure II.

(c), (d) & (e) Section 3(1) (a) to 3 (1) (m) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in short Forest Rights Act, 2006) provides for forest rights, which secure individual or community tenure or both, of forest dwelling scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dweller on all forest land. Section 3(2) of Forest Rights Act, 2006 also provides for developmental rights. In this regard, there is no proposal for relaxation in the Forest Rights Act, 2006.