Forest Dept Blinks After Farmer Fury: Controversial FRA Notification Withdrawn After Intense Protest.
SHIMLA: Himbumail.com’s exposé, backed by growing anger from farmers’ organisations and Left outfits, has finally forced the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department to roll back a controversial notification that had created chaos around the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 in Himachal.
The storm was triggered by a confusing circular issued by the state’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) on April 11, followed by a so-called clarification on April 17.
Rather than easing tensions, this move sparked further outrage, particularly among small and marginal farmers who feared displacement from land they have been cultivating for decades and are now seeking regularisation under FRA and state policy.
Calling out the ambiguity and alleged backdoor attempts to derail the FRA implementation, the Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh, Himachal Kisan Sabha, and CPI(M) launched a direct action protest.
More than 200 CPM workers, led by senior leaders Rakesh Singha, Dr. Kuldeep Tanwar, Vijender Mehra, and Jagat Ram, staged a three-hour-long sit-in at the Forest Department headquarters.
The protest culminated in a marathon 90-minute meeting with the PCCF and senior officials, after which the department agreed to withdraw the controversial order with immediate effect.
The withdrawal is being seen as a significant victory for the farming community.
Rakesh Singha and Dr. Tanwar termed it a "people's win" and a critical step in removing confusion from district-level committees responsible for processing FRA claims.
More importantly, it is expected to halt ongoing attempts to evict farmers and refocus efforts on implementing the Forest Rights Act in a fair and transparent manner.
The rollback signals that the state government may finally be waking up to the urgency of securing land rights for its farmers — especially those already on the edge.
For now, the beleaguered cultivators of Himachal Pradesh can breathe a little easier.
