Draft amendment of IFA should not conflict with Sixth Schedule: KHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 13, 2019

SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has maintained that the proposed move of the Centre to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927 should not in any way conflict with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. 

The issue was discuss at the first meeting of the 17-member committee constituted by the KHADC to study the proposed amendment of IFA, 1927, chaired by the executive member in charge Forest Victor Ranee as its chairman on Tuesday. 

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Ranee said that the meeting has decided to give time to its members to study the draft amendment of the IFA and to come back to the committee with their views and suggestions in the next meeting scheduled to be held on August 27. 

Council’s Chief Forest Officer and secretary of the committee R Kylla informed that after taking the views and suggestions of all the members, the Council would accordingly submit a proposal to the state government for necessary consideration. 

“The main objective of the committee is to study and to ensure that the proposed amendment do not in any way affect the powers of the district councils as empowered by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” he said. 

Asked, Adviser of the Meghalaya Land Forest Owners Association (MLFOA) John F Kharshiing said the draft amendment proposed by the Centre was to ensure that the Indian Forest Act is applicable in the entire country as at present it is only for few states. 

He said the state government through the forest department in the meantime will hold consultation meetings in all the districts to take the views and suggestions of all stakeholders within two months.  

Lauding the KHADC for constituting the committee, Kharshiing said, “Through this committee, we want to ensure that land tenure system here will be affected.” 

Nongthymmai MDC and member of the Committee Latiplang Kharkongor said that all members will give their views on the draft amendment in the next meeting.