Punjab Forest Dept Flags Flood Plan Risks

As the monsoon season approaches, Punjab's forest department has voiced strong objections to the alleged exclusion of Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) from critical disaster management meetings. These meetings concern the temporary utilization of forest land for flood-control initiatives. The department warns that this exclusion could circumvent mandatory legal protections, potentially resulting in significant ecological damage.

The Punjab government is scheduled to convene a high-level meeting on Friday, chaired by the Chief Secretary, to deliberate on the use of forest land for flood mitigation and disaster management efforts in sensitive riverine regions.

Recent discussions during a flood preparedness review highlighted that certain forest stretches within riverbeds are impeding planned flood-protection and drainage projects. Consequently, deputy commissioners were instructed to include their conservators of forests and DFOs in upcoming discussions.

However, concerns have been raised that DFOs are not being invited to some District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meetings, despite proposals for forest land diversion being on the agenda. The forest department cited legal provisions from the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, which permit temporary forest land use only in exceptional cases of imminent disasters.

Excluding forest officers from these deliberations could weaken environmental safeguards, particularly in ecologically sensitive riverbed zones. The department emphasizes that any temporary diversion of forest land must be limited to essential public-interest works and minimize damage to ecosystems. Clarification on guidelines for emergency forest land use has been sought from the Union environment ministry.