Mizoram Assembly Adopts Resolution Opposing Forest (Conservation) Act

The Mizoram Assembly adopted an official resolution opposing the recently passed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 by Parliament.

The resolution, presented by Mizoram's Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister TJ Lalnuntluanga, emphasised the “need to protect the rights and interests of the people of Mizoram”.

Lalnuntluanga stated that the state government had been expressing its opposition to the amendment Bill since the very beginning. The government had communicated its concerns through letters to the Centre and the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on multiple occasions. However, despite receiving 1,309 protest letters and communications, the JPC proceeded with the Bill's approval, leading to its passage in both the Lok Sabha on July 26 and the Rajya Sabha on August 2.

"Even though we have taken an exhaustive effort to protect our forest from destruction and to safeguard the rights of people of the state, by conveying our concern about the proposed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act through numerous correspondences to the Centre, it has yielded no result. Therefore, we present this resolution today," Lalnuntluanga was quoted as saying.

The minister highlighted the potential threat to Mizoram's forest cover, citing the vulnerability of the state under Section 2, sub-section (i) of the amendment Act. Expressing frustration with the lack of response to their efforts, Lalnuntluanga presented the resolution in the Assembly as a last resort.

After extensive deliberations involving members from the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the opposition, the resolution received overwhelming support. All members, except BJP lawmaker B D Chakma, voted in favour of the resolution, underlining the Assembly's unified stance against the Act.