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Title : Regarding observation of Forest Day in the Country on the 21st March, 2006 and strict implementation of the Forest (Conservation) Act as well as the Wild Life Protection Act.
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): Sir, today we observe the Forest Day throughout the country. Unfortunately, the hon. Minister is not present.
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : मंत्री जी बैठे हुए हैं, उनकी डयूटी लगी हुई है।
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : It becomes important not because it is a day to be observed throughout the country, but it becomes important when we take into consideration the environmental circumstances that we are facing.
It is the basic policy of the Government to keep one-third of the land as forest land. What is the present position? Encroachment is the order of the day. People are encroaching the forest land. They remain there for a long time. Subsequently, they will draw the attention that we have made improvements, and large assignments will be made in their favour. This is the practice throughout India. The net result is that the forest land is getting dwindled and reduced. As a result, we face severe environmental crisis. It will affect the human race as a whole. It will affect not only human race but it will also affect animals. We have revised the Forest Act. We have got ‘tiger’ as our national animal. What is the result? Tiger is getting extinct from the universe. Everyday, tigers are being killed indiscriminately. Nobody cares about the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act and nobody is serious about the Forest (Conservation) Act. The net result is that we always encroach the forest land and nobody cares. There is deforestation and planting is not done. It is a very important thing; you and I will not exist; our generation will extinct from the Universe. … (Interruptions) Our successors, our future generation will not be in the Universe if things go on like this.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: What is your demand? Please put your demand.
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : Everyday people are getting into the forest land. The forest land is getting encroached and nobody tries to evict them. So, I would like to request the Central Government whether they are serious about implementation of the Forest Act and keeping the universe as it is. They must do something so that these encroachments will be removed. Killing indiscriminately the tiger and other rare species of animals must be prevented. The Forest Act as well as the Wildlife Protection Act must be strictly implemented. Merely publishing the photo of the Minister in the newspapers and giving publicity is not enough. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VIJAYENDRA PAL SINGH (BHILWARA): Sir, I would like to associate myself with what the hon. Member has said.
SHRI LAKSHMAN SINGH (RAJGARH): Sir, I would also like to associate myself with what the hon. Member has said.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO (KALAHANDI): Sir, I would also like to associate myself with what the hon. Member has said.
SHRIMATI KIRAN MAHESHWARI (UDAIPUR): Sir, I would also like to associate myself with what the hon. Member has said.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Your names will be associated.
Shri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao.
SHRI MADHUSUDAN MISTRY (SABARKANTHA): Sir, I oppose the statement.… (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : I was referring to the country as a whole. I am not blaming anybody.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Only Shri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao’s statement will be recorded.
(Interruptions) …*
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing is going on record.
(Interruptions) …*
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing will be recorded.
(Interruptions) …*
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI): Deputy-Speaker, Sir, in all humility I would like to inform the hon. Member that the Government brought a legislation, and this very House did not carry the legislation; they preferred to have it examined by Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Joint Parliamentary Committee is yet to give their outcome to the House, and thereafter appropriate decision and debate can take place. I feel all the views will be heard by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The intention of the UPA Government is not to uproot any tribal from the forest. That is the policy of the UPA Government.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Only Shri Rao’s speech will go on record.
(Interruptions) … *
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing else will be recorded.
(Interruptions) …*
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, we do not like to question the competence of the Judiciary and we do not have any intention to undermine the Judiciary. … (Interruptions) Sir, the UPA Government, after coming to power, made it abundantly clear at the very beginning through our National Common Minimum Programme as well as through legislation that we want to protect the interests of the tribals. The Bill was introduced. It was examined by a Group of Ministers. It was cleared by the Cabinet. It was introduced in the House and it was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The outcome of the
Committee will come soon. We shall ensure that every inch of the interest of the
tribals will be protected. … (Interruptions)
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* Not Recorded.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, Shri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao. Nothing will go on record except the submission of Shri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao.
(Interruptions) …*
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing is going on record. Please sit down.