PANJIM: Expressing displeasure over the slow progress in settling the forest right claims, the State government has directed the Forest Right Committees (FRCs) to expedite the process to ensure that the ownership rights are given to the claimants in next six months. The government has set target of 300 cases to be disposed-off monthly.
The State has received total 10,136 claims for forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. However, till date, only 46 titles have been handed over the claimants. The Supreme Court too has allowed time till July 2021 to dispose-off all the rightful claims.
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Observing lack of co-ordination, lethargic attitude of officers and the current pandemic as major reasons for delaying the settlements, the Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar on Tuesday held a joint meeting with Minister for Tribal Welfare Govind Gaude, Minister for PWD Deepak Pauskar, Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, Collector North and South, FRCs and other officials. Directions have been issued to expedite the process and to dispose-off all the pending claims in six months.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Kavlekar said that despite continuous follow-up from the concerned Minister, MLAs and the claimants, the claims are not settled by the FRCs and District Level Committees (DLC), due to various reasons.
“Lack of coordination and lethargic attitude of the ground level officers is the prime reason. We cannot cite pandemic as main reason,” he said.
Kavlekar said that FRCs and district committees are given six months time to dispose-off all the pending cases.
“Within six months, the ownership right has to be vested to the concerned claimants,” he said adding that a joint review meeting would be held every month.
Earlier speaking, Gaude said that committees are directed to settle atleast 300 cases every month.
“The FRC has assured that by mid November, 343 claims would be settled and thereafter 300-400 cases every month,” he said.
The Minister said that though spot verifications of the claims have taken place in many talukas, in Quepem, the progress is very slow.
“Directions have been issued to expedite the process,” he said.
The FRCs had received a total 10,136 claims of which 2,482 are in North while 7,654 are in South.
Of the total 47 rejected claims, 42 are re-considered and sent for re-spot verification, four claims are withdrawn by the claimants and one is approved by the DLC.
During a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, IAS, Parimal Rai, last month, the decision was taken that an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking further two years time to dispose all the forest rights claims, would be filed.
