Negi urges governor to approve Nautor land allotment in tribal areas

Shimla: Jagat Singh Negi, the minister for revenue, horticulture and tribal development, met governor Kavinder Gupta at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday and sought approval for the allotment of Nautor forest land to eligible residents of Himachal Pradesh's tribal regions.Nautor land is a wasteland owned by the govt outside towns, reserved and demarcated as protected forest areas.During the meeting, Negi emphasised the need to relax restrictions imposed under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, to facilitate the distribution of Nautor land in the tribal and border areas.The minister said the state govt raised the issue with the Centre soon after assuming office in 2023 and requested exemption under the Act for such allotments.Highlighting the challenges faced by the tribal regions, Negi said limited land ownership had contributed to unemployment and migration. He stressed that allotment of Nautor land, under which eligible families could receive up to 20 bighas, was essential for strengthening the local economy and checking migration.Negi pointed out that under the provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, the governor had the authority to approve Nautor forest land allotments. He said the governor, being the constitutional guardian of tribal interests, could play a crucial role in improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.The minister recalled that similar exemptions from the Forest Conservation Act were granted in 2014, 2016 and 2018, enabling a large number of tribal residents to benefit from land allotments.MSID:: 131462426 413 |