Raj govt & Centre giving away tribal land to firms, says Roat

Jaipur: Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat has accused the state and Union govts of allocating land reserved for tribal communities to companies for commercial projects and residential areas, a practice he claims threatens the livelihoods and cultural heritage of indigenous people.Roat said that these allocations violate the Forest Rights Act of 2006 and several Supreme Court judgments.In a recent session of Parliament, Roat raised concerns that land intended for the residence and livelihood of tribals is being handed over to non-tribals, which he says diminishes the influence and rights of indigenous communities. “Almost 488 hectares of land have been allocated to four companies over the years, and these permissions were granted without obtaining the required consent from the gram sabha, as mandated by the PESA Act and Forest Rights Act (FRA). These leases were issued by successive govts in Rajasthan,” Roat said over the phone on Friday.Specifically, in Rajasthan's Pratapgarh district, 85 hectares of forest land in the villages of Danta and Kela Mela were allocated for open-cast marble mining. Roat criticised the decision, stating, “Even reserved forest areas are not spared and are being given away for mining and other commercial purposes.”He pointed out that the state govt’s approval of mining on tribal land violates the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and the Forest Rules of 2023, which mandate the protection of tribal livelihoods and rights before granting such permissions. Roat also highlighted issues with the land acquired for the proposed Mahi-Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant, suggesting that these acquisitions have also disregarded established rules.“I understand that the practice of acquiring land by violating rules has been in place for decades, but now the tribals are awakened and ready to go to any extent to protect their land," Roat warned. In Parliament, Roat also raised concerns about the forest department's treatment of tribals, noting that while tribals are harassed for minor forest use, private companies are being unjustly allowed to destroy vast areas of forest land for commercial gain.Roat called for an immediate halt to the mining and other commercial projects in reserved areas and demanded a thorough review of all permissions granted for forest land use. He urged the govt to prioritise the rights and welfare of tribal communities and to stop displacing them in favour of corporate interests.