The UPA II government on Tuesday showcased several initiatives that have helped in sustaining the environment during its three-year rule despite the fact that delay in environmental approvals have hurt project implementation and overall industrial growth. The report to the people outlined the major steps taken to preserve the environment. It talked about the National Action Plan on Climate Change, forest conservation, mission clean Ganga, the setting up of the National Green Tribunal and tiger conservation.

TURA: The GSU, North Western Zone, has expressed its concern over the rate of deforestation through rampant felling of trees in Garo Hills by saw mill owners exporting wood to other states. The GSU through a communiqué stated that there is increased illegal installation and operation of saw mills in areas with dense forestation which is depleting forest cover at an alarming rate. These saw

CANNING, 22 MAY: Demanding their right to the forest, Sunderbans fishermen here today said it is forest department officials who flout rules in the biosphere reserve, not villagers. "We want immediate implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, in the islands so that high-handedness of the forest officials stops," said Sunderbans Fishworkers Joint Action Committee member Pabitra Mondal.

The Centre is set to constitute a Minimum Support Price (MSP) commission to fix ‘assured price’ tribals would receive for collecting minor forest produce. The produce includes tamarind, medicinal plants, bamboo, mahua, sal seeds and tendu leaves. The panel, which would be formed under the tribal affairs ministry, would get lists of products that each state has declared as non-timber forest produce or minor forest produce (MFP).

GUWAHATI: The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is not being properly implemented in Assam along with other parts of the country. This was revealed by the Asian Indigenous and Tribal People’s Network (AITPN) in its report titled ‘‘The State of the Forest Rights Act: Undoing of Historical Injustice Withered’’ which was released on Monday.

It is also seen that the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is very slow in Assam and the rate of rejection of claims made by the forest dwellers is also increasing in case of the State.