Clearance for linear projects will not need gram sabha consent.

Gram sabhas in forest areas have been stripped of their power to approve or reject proposals for the diversion of their forest lands for building roads, transmission lines, canals or other linear projects.

In a move that activists have slammed as being a dilution of the rights of tribal people and other forest dwellers, the Environment Ministry amended its critical August 2009 circular dealing with the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

'Projects like construction of roads, canals, laying of pipelines/optical fibres and transmission lines etc., [which involve] linear diversion of forest land in several villages — unless recognised rights of PTG/PAC are being affected — are exempted from the requirement of obtaining consent of the concerned gram sabha(s) as stipulated [in the 2009 circular],' said Assistant Inspector General of Forests H.C. Chaudhary in a fresh circular.

This amendment follows the agreement reached at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo and Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan. Both Ministers had earlier vowed to stand against any dilution of tribal rights; however, both Ministers agreed to amend the circular.

The Hindu