Forests Law versus Policy

IT is often said that in the case of the government of India the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. It now appears that in (he case of forest development the right hand is undoing what the left hand is trying to do. It is reported that the prime minister, while addressing a conference on Panchayat Raj and Tribal Communities, announced that a committee will be appointed to consider the Forest (Conservation)Act of 1980 and the recent amendment to the same made in 1988. It is surprising to note that a resolution on National Forest Policy was also passed by Rajya Sabha in December 1988. One is surprised to find a difference in approach between the two measures. After independence the government of India adopted the National Forest Policy Resolution on May 12,1952. It was stated that the National Forest Policy should be based on paramount national needs that were listed as follows: