We are losing forest land to land grabbers: We are waiting for the day of reckoning

ILLEGAL tree cutting remains rampant in most reserved forests in the country. This has been happening at a time when the government is trying to increase the country’s forest coverage to 18 percent from the current 15.58 percent by 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Around 10 percent of the country’s total forestland has been lost since independence due to deforestation, land grabbing, leasing, and allocation for government and non-government projects. The perpetrators are largely remained untouched by laws that encourage others to grab forests.
There are a good number of relevant laws regarding forest conservation, such as Forest Act 1927, Environment Conservation Act 1995, Wildlife Conservation and Security Act 2012, and Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act, 2013. As per brick manufacturing and brick kilns act, use of timber as fuel in brick-fields is prohibited. Moreover, the act also states that brick-fields cannot be established within 1 km of forest and ecologically critical areas, within 2 km of government-owned forest areas and within 500m of hills and mounds. The forest act lists activities that are prohibited in reserve forests, which includes clearing any part of the forest, felling and removing timber, setting fire, burning lime or charcoal.
The forest officers are empowered to seize any forest produce and tools used to commit offences, and has the right to arrest (without warrant) any person who is reasonably suspected as being involved in such offences. Though the act provides ample power to officers, it does not mention what action should be taken against such officers if they fail to perform their responsibilities. Rather, the act provides indemnity to them for any action done in good faith.
It is alleged that such protection provides favourable treatment, which goes against the constitutional stipulation of equality before law. It is also noted that if the actions of those in power are not legally scrutinised or have no consequences, they might lead to abusive and discriminatory practices. The existing laws should be amended to incorporate provisions to hold forest officers accountable if they fail to perform their obligations.
We do not have government of law, so might is right for losing public property. We are waiting for the day of reckoning.