A spirited demonstration in Parliament by Left and SP members on Thursday demanding early notification of the law granting rights to forest dwellers residing in protected tiger reserves forced the government to assert that action would be taken in the matter soon.
??It is under active consideration of the government and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is highly concerned over the delay. It is in the knowledge of the Prime Minister and it will be notified very soon,?? parliamentary affairs minister PR Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha. The issue was raised by SP?s Ramji Lal Suman and endorsed by Left members. Suman charged that the delay in notification was causing irreparable loss as the timber mafia was indulging in rampant cutting of trees in the forest areas. He alleged tribals were being evicted from the forests and such reports were coming from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
The Rajya Sabha too witnessed a walkout by Left members led by CPM?s Brinda Karat over the issue, who expressed their outrage over the response given by minister of state for environment and forests S Raghupathy on the issue. ??How can the government implement an Act without notification of the rule??? asked an agitated Brinda Karat.