FCA / SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS/
Procedures to be carried out for the grant of clearance
A user agency who seeks clearance for a particular activity for which the diversion of forest land is necessary must submit a proposal in the format prescribed under the Act (and the rules made under the Act). Form A and Form B, appended to the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003 list out the particulars that are required to be furnished. Along with the proposal, depending upon the type of activity, the forest area under consideration and the size of the forest land proposed for diversion, the following information may be required to be submitted by the state/UT government to the central government for the grant of clearance:
Click on each of the links below for more detailed information on each activity
- Cost Benefit Analysis – A cost-benefit analysis should accompany the proposals sent to the central government. The analysis consists of weighing the ecological, environmental and socio-economic losses against economic and social benefits
- Compensatory Afforestation Scheme – Afforestation must be carried out over non-forest or degraded forest land to compensate for the loss of forest land due to the proposed activity. The proposal therefore must contain details on the compensatory afforestation scheme, the cost of undertaking compensatory afforestation, etc.
- Public Consultation resolution – The proposal should be accompanied by a resolution of the Aam Sabha of Gram Panchayat/Local Body of the area in favour of the proposal, endorsing that the project is in the interest of the people living in and around the proposed forest land. Some projects however are exempted from such process
- Rehabilitation plan – For projects where people living in and around the forest area to be diverted are to be rehabilitated, the proposal must be accompanied by details of displacement and a rehabilitation scheme
- Working Plan / Management Plan - All proposals for reafforestation on forest land, if it includes clearing of naturally grown trees on the forest land (or a portion of such land) shall be sent in the form of a Working Plan or Management Plan
- Catchment Area Treatment Plan – All irrigation and hydel power projects require catchment area treatment plans to be sent along with the proposal.
- Site inspection by Officers – The forest area proposed for diversion is inspected by an authorized officer and the site inspection report is sent along with the proposal. Depending on the size of the forest area under consideration, the officers conducting the site inspection and the details that must be included in the report vary
This guide is an additional aid to understanding the law. We have re-written some of the text in various and have not reproduced the exact text from the bare acts. While all efforts have been made to maintain the accuracy of this information, relevant official gazettes may be consulted for authenticity. The authors of this resource will not be responsible for any loss due to the information provided in this guide. Any discrepancy found may kindly be brought to our notice.