Gandhinagar: Gujarat govt on Monday said a dispute involving tribal farmers over cultivation of forest land in Sagbara taluka of Narmada district and Umarpada taluka of Surat district had been resolved after assurances that their claims would be examined under the Forest Rights Act.The resolution was reached at Haripura in Umarpada in the presence of Ishwarsinh Patel, minister in charge of water resources and Narmada district, Pravin Mali, minister of state for forest and environment, and Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasava. The farmers ended their agitation and broke their fast in the presence of the ministers and the MP.Mali said govt had acted promptly after considering the farmers’ representations. He said the forest department would also take steps to create more local employment opportunities for tribal communities.An official statement quoted Vasava as saying that action would be taken on forest land rights certificates already issued to tribal beneficiaries in line with the rights granted to them. He said claims pending before district-level committees would be scrutinised along with the necessary supporting documents.“After verification of the claims and supporting evidence, all applicants found eligible under the Forest Rights Act will be issued forest land rights certificates,” Vasava said.
