NEW DELHI/SHIMLA: In a high-stakes battle between environmental champions and the ruling NDA government, the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill-2023 has now landed in the Rajya Sabha for the last approval.
As Twitter erupted with hashtags like #ScrapForestConservationAmendmentBill2023 and #SaveIndianForests, opposing NGOs, activists, and citizens from 16 states launched a relentless campaign, pinning their hopes on the 245 Members of Rajya Sabha to slam the brakes on this contentious legislation.
Hinging on a slender thread, the fate of India's depleting ecosystems now rests on the shoulders of the Rajya Sabha MPs, who are being pleaded to reject the Bill by green activists.
The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in a chaotic session on July 26, with the Manipur violence serving as a contentious backdrop in Parliament.
Critics allege that the Bill aims to strip the protective mantle of the Forest Conservation Act from 100 kms of border areas, paving the way for exploitation by corporate interests.
Tribals in Lahaul-Spiti, Ladakh are demanding protecting cover of the PESA and power of Gram sabha to approve or reject a project in tribal areas of the districts.
They demand all-weather road and cheaper air-connectivity to transport their goods to the markets.
Spitians in cold desert of Himachal are on hunger strike, demanding eco- friendly modern facilities like solar power, road and Internet connectivity and flow irrigation to increase their sources of livelihoods.
A rallying cry of "Save Indian Forests" has echoed across the country, with the government accused of eyeing the Northeast states as a grand prize for its corporate allies venturing into the lucrative safari business.
But it's not just the environmentalists who are up in arms. Concerns are rife that ecologically vital regions, such as mangroves shielding the coastline, will be left defenseless under the proposed changes.
In the other corner, Bill supporters maintain that the amendments are critical to fast-track strategic security projects.
They argue that the Act's exemption of certain lands within the border zone is vital for national security projects and amenities for the locals and tourists on the highways skirting the border mainly in the Himalayan region in Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Northeast.
However, the opposing NGOs and groups are not backing down, saying that that this move is "nothing short of a sell-out to vested interests".
They claim that even eco-sensitive areas and treasured landscapes would bear the brunt, as provisions in the Bill loosen the reins on conservation efforts.
The proponents champion the potential for development in the border areas through zoos, safaris, and eco-tourism facilities and improving the livelihoods of natives.
The opposition sees it as a “Faustian bargain at the cost of Mother Nature's precious resources”.
As the political battleground heats up, the BJP (92 MPs) and its allies, who claim to hold the majority in the Rajya Sabha face a formidable challenge from the united opposition bloc, who also boast of the majority.
Smaller parties' allegiance could be the deciding factor in this neck-and-neck race to either pass or stall the Bill.
But it remains to be seen to which extent the NGOs and opponents of Bill are able to convince or win over the Rajya Sabha MPs, who have not gone on record to support or reject the Bill so far.
Minister of Environment, Forests, Climate Change Bhupender Yadav assures that the Joint Parliament Committee has considered all concerns of the NGOs and other stakeholders, Adivasis and other communities in India.
Joint Parliament Committee(JPC) had toured the country and addressed the concerns raised in 1309 memorandums JPC had received from the NGOs and stakeholders in different states. 
The Supreme Court's 1996 ruling had created ambiguity over the definition of forests. Needs of the 21st India have been addressed by seeking amendment in the Act, he told the Parliament.
For the BJP time is running out, with a deadline to pass the Bill this month, as 33 Rajya Sabha MPs from the ruling alliance are set to retire by July end.
Much remains to be seen as to how Rajya Sabha MPs respond to the controversial legislation.
With stakes this high, are Rajya Sabha MPs are convinced what NGOs and activists say, nation awaits Rajya Sabha's verdict in days to come.
