Srinagar, Sept 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that delays in processing forest land diversion proposals are primarily caused by incomplete applications and non-uploading of requisite documents by project proponents and user agencies on the PARIVESH portal.
The response was given by the Minister in-charge of Forest, Ecology and Environment in the J&K Legislative Assembly in reply to a question raised by MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and the processing of forest-related clearances.
On whether the Kashmir Forest Notice was issued in connection with implementation of the Forest Rights Act, the government replied in the negative.
The Minister said the Kashmir Forest Notice was not connected with the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and was notified in 1912 with the objective of providing certain concessions of forest produce to the people of the Kashmir province.
On the reasons for delay in issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the concerned department for developmental and infrastructure projects, the government said there was no delay on the part of the Forest Department in processing forest land diversion proposals.
“Delay, wherever occurring, is primarily attributable to either incomplete proposals or non-uploading of requisite documents by the project proponents/User Agencies as per the prescribed checklist mandated under PARIVESH Portal,” the reply stated.
The MLA had also sought information on complaints regarding the performance and technical issues of the PARIVESH Portal, and the steps being taken to improve its efficiency, speed and reliability for timely disposal of applications and issuance of permissions/NOCs.
In response, the Minister said PARIVESH was a centrally hosted and managed platform developed and maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
The government said that no such dismal performance of the portal had been noticed or reported.
