Mon Dec 23 23:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Kerala Congress (M) Raises Concerns Over Controversial Forest Amendment Bill

**Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 24, 2024** – The Kerala Congress (M), a key member of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), expressed serious concerns on Monday regarding the proposed Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Following a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, party chairman Jose K. Mani stated that while the Chief Minister assured the bill would not harm farmers, the party remains apprehensive.

The party’s main concerns center around provisions granting extensive powers to forest officials, including warrantless arrests by lower-ranking personnel, raising fears of potential misuse. Further concerns were raised about the bill’s classification of actions such as fishing in rivers and damaging boundary markers as offenses, without clarifying if these apply to reserve forests. This ambiguity threatens the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in areas like Mankulam in Idukki district, bordering forest lands.

Mr. Mani refuted claims by Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran that the bill is not anti-farmer, alleging that bureaucrats are spreading misinformation. The Kerala Congress (M) strongly opposes the bill, fearing it could negatively impact their support base in central Kerala where many depend on farming near forest areas. The party is urging the government to address their concerns before the bill is finalized.

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