Documents show that the ideas that serve as a basis for the drafting process have little to do with forest protection, focusing instead on ease of doing business. A sure-fire recipe for controversy.
In early April this year, as most Indians were grappling with the second wave of COVID- 19, the environment ministry quietly announced on its website that it intends to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927 by hiring the services of a private consulting agency or law firm.
Since most people were occupied with tackling the hellish consequences of the pandemic’s second wave at the time, the ministry’s announcement was not noticed widely. Whatever little criticism the announcement attracted in subsequent months was muted. But there continues to be a sense of unease among environmentalists about the government’s decision to hire …
Akshay is an investigative reporter and former writer at The Morning Context. Based in Delhi, he writes about the environment, public policy and economy from the lens of the pulls and pressures of an ambitious democracy. Akshay uses the right to information extensively for reporting stories of vital public interest. Over the past decade and more, he has worked for HuffPost India, Frontline, The Economic Times, Down To Earth and DNA.
akshay@mailtmc.com