294 committees framed under Forest Right Act in Budgam

Budgam: A meeting to discuss modalities and provisions about the Forest Rights Act was held today attended, among others, by DDC, Chairperson Budgam Mr. Nazir Ahmad Khan besides DDC and BDC members of the district.

While speaking on the occasion, Mr Nazir appealed to concerned authorities to ensure that every genuine person shall get his due right while implementing this Act as the families concerned with this process are economically and socially under privileged. He said it shall be our prime responsibility to take all stakeholders along while framing and formulating committees responsible to identify the genuine beneficiaries.

During the meeting, DFO Budgam Mr. Mohammad Ashraf threw light on the modalities and various prospectus of this Act. He said, anyone having possession or residing on the forest land before 13th December 2005 will be a contender for ownership rights. Simultaneously, any person having occupied the forest land or presently residing beyond January 2006 has no right to claim any ownership rights. He informed that 294 such committees have been constituted/framed so far.

The meeting among others was also attended by ADC, ACR Budgam and other concerned sectoral officers besides officials from the Forest Department.