GUWAHATI: Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah's remarks on boosting revenue collection in the Forest Department have sparked criticism from environmental activists, who argue that the department's primary responsibility is to protect forests and wildlife rather than generate revenue.
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Speaking to the media in Guwahati on Sunday, Mallabaruah said his priority would be to plug revenue leakages and ensure full collection of dues in the departments under his charge.
"We do not want to burden the people with additional taxes. The three departments under me; Finance, Forest and Mining are revenue-generating departments. There have been allegations of revenue leakages in the Forest Department. My target is to stop these leakages and ensure 100 per cent revenue collection," the minister said.
His remarks drew sharp reactions from environmentalists, who warned that an excessive focus on revenue could undermine conservation efforts.
Journalist and environmental activist Apurba Ballav Goswami said the government's priority should be the conservation and expansion of forest cover, especially in the face of global warming and climate change.
"If a Forest Minister speaks like this, what more can we expect from the government? At a time when climate change is a major concern, the government should focus on afforestation and forest conservation. If increasing revenue becomes the priority, it could lead to large-scale destruction of forest resources," Goswami said.
He also urged the government to uphold the Supreme Court's 1996 order restricting tree felling in the Northeast.
"If there are no forests, there will be no wildlife. The Forest Department's foremost duty is to preserve forests and protect wildlife," he added.
Environmental activist Dilip Nath also criticised the minister's remarks, describing them as unfortunate.
"A few hours ago, the minister said his primary objective was to increase revenue collection in the three departments under his charge. If a Forest Minister speaks in such terms, it is unfortunate," Nath said.
He said the core responsibilities of the Forest Department include protecting reserve forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, removing encroachments from forest land, and undertaking plantations in degraded forest areas.
"It appears the Forest Minister has shifted focus from the department's core objectives and is instead prioritising revenue collection," Nath said.
Referring to the Supreme Court's observations in 1996, Nath said the court had noted that India's forest cover was only 11 per cent against the desired 19 per cent and had imposed restrictions on tree felling across the Northeast.
"If the government pursues higher forest revenue as a policy objective, it could result in extensive destruction of forest resources. I urge the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter," he added.