Civil society groups, opposition parties protest Forest Conservation Amendment Act in Mizoram

Several civil society organisations staged a demonstration in Aizawl on Thursday to protest the Forest Conservation Amendment Act FCAA 2023 which was adopted by the state assembly in the recently concluded monsoon sessionAll opposition parties barring the BJP participated in the protest held in front of Vanapa HallThe protest was organised by the civil society organisations under the aegis of the Joint Civil Society of Mizoram JCMAddressing the rally JCM convener Lalbiakmawia Ngente said that the FCAA is an infringement upon the land rights of the indigenous people and is a serious threat to the stateHe said that Article 371 G of the Constitution which provides a special provision to Mizoram to protect the Mizo customary law and procedure religious and social practices and ownership and transfer of land will become useless with the adoption of the ActJCM secretary Vanlalsiama Chhangte said that they have been vehemently opposing the Act as it is a direct encroachment by the Centre on the land rights of the indigenous peopleCongress general secretary Lalbiakzama claimed that the Act allows the Centre to have direct control over the states forest lands located within 100 km of the international border to execute strategic linear projects of national importance and concerning national security and to construct securityrelated infrastructure and defencerelated projectsPeoples Conference PC party president Vanlalruata who spoke on the occasion also blamed the Zoram Peoples Movement ZPM government headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma for allegedly selling the states forest lands to the CentreThe protesters demanded that the state government withdraw the resolution adopting the FCAASeveral politicians and workers from opposition parties including former deputy chief minister Tawnlui of Mizo National Front MNF former minister Lalruatkima and three sitting MNF legislators Robert Romawia Royte R Rohmingliana and Prova Chakma also took part in the demonstrationThe state assembly adopted the FCAA during its monsoon session on August 27 reversing an earlier resolution adopted in August 2023 during the MNF rule opposing the ActEarlier the MNF submitted a petition to Assembly Speaker Lalbiakzama urging him to summon a special session to review or withdraw the resolution adopted on August 27 Lalbiakzama told PTI that summoning a special session did not fall within his purview and the government will decide it if necessaryHe said that the FCAA was unanimously adopted by the assembly as no members opposed it during the votingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever