OSFC chairperson Ranglal Jamuda writes letters to all the collectors to execute the Act
Bhubaneswar: Expressing dissatisfaction over poor execution of Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 in the state, the Orissa State Food Commission (OSFC) Friday directed all the district collectors to take lead role in execution of FRA in letter and spirit.
OSFC Chairperson Ranglal Jamuda has shot off letters to all the collectors in this regard. In his letter, Jamuda said, “After more than a decade of the implementation of the Act, it is felt that much more has to be done to translate the intended benefits to favour the right holders which can only be possible if the implementation is robust and according to letter and spirit of the Act.”
Though three departments–Revenue & Disaster Management, Forest and Environment and SC & ST Development –have to play lead roles in effective implementation of FRA, the Commission observed in the field that ST & SC Development department is unable to play an effective role in carrying out the mandates under the Act.
“Therefore, it would be just and proper if the collectors take the lead role in effective and efficient implementation of FRA,” he told the collectors.
The OSFC pointed out that there is not a single title under FRA 2006 distributed in Puri district while only two out of 30 districts –
Bhadrak and Jharsuguda – have completed the entire exercise relating to demarcation of land and correction of records (including maps).
The government has distributed 3,97,898 titles under FRA so far.
However, demarcation of vested land has been completed only in respect of 2,41,731 titles, which is 60.75 per cent of the total titles.
Moreover, the figures relating to six districts – Cuttack, Kandhamal, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Sundargarh – appear to be doubtful. Even, 19,860 out of 2,41,731 titles were demarcated without correcting the land records, , the chairperson pointed out.
Keeping the above facts in view, the Commission has asked the Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) to review the progress made in this effect on monthly basis.
The Collectors were also instructed to undertake developmental activities of the forest dwellers exploring funds from sources like District Mineral Foundation (DMF), Orissa Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA).
PNN