JAMMU, Feb 20: Jammu and Kashmir has received 41,944 claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), including 28,925 individual and 13,019 community forest rights claims, the Union Territory government informed the Assembly on Friday.
In a written reply to BJP MLA R.S. Pathania, Forest Minister Javed Rana said Rajouri recorded the highest number with 16,442 claims, followed by Kupwara (6,039) and Poonch (5,175). Budgam reported 4,065 claims, while Doda (1,795), Shopian (1,595), Kulgam (1,405), Ramban (1,308) and Baramulla (741) also registered significant numbers.
Anantnag logged 676 claims, Reasi 578, Ganderbal 514, Pulwama 323 and Bandipora 219. In Jammu region districts, Kishtwar recorded 855 claims, Jammu 44, Kathua 42, Samba 77 and Udhampur 51. No claims were received from Srinagar district, the House was told.
The Forest Rights Act, 2006, recognises rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers residing on forest land for at least three generations. Rana said the data reflects cumulative claims across all districts under the Act.
He added that while the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department earlier served as nodal agency for FRA implementation, the government has now designated the Tribal Affairs Department as the nodal department. (Agencies)
