A first — ministry revokes permission to religious trust to use forest land

In a first-of-its-kind decision, the Environment Ministry has revoked the permission given to a religious trust to utilise forest land inside a wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said a committee must be formed to formulate protocols for the ministry’s permission to religious institutions in the forests.

The Mukundpuriji Maharaj Seva Trust has submitted an application to the ministry to obtain clearance for using 0.35 hectares of land of the Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, which clears proposals of projects located inside forests, stated, “The right of the Applicant Agency: Pramukhshri, Mukundpuriji Maharaj Seva Trust on the land has not been recognised or recorded in the forest settlement report or any other government records. This is a first case in which allotment of the sanctuary land has been considered, which may act as precedence regarding demand of the protected area lands for religious or any such purpose. After discussions, the Standing Committee decided to revoke the recommendations in respect of the proposal for use of 0.3501 ha of forest land.”

At the meeting of the panel, Yadav said there were sacred caves and religious places inside forests and wildlife areas that find mention in religious texts.

“The followers decide to develop these areas as a matter of faith. A Standard Operating Procedure may be formulated for the submission of applications and the documents to be required at the time of submission of applications for those cases of religious institutions seeking recommendations of the Standing Committee,” the minutes of the meeting chaired by Yadav said.