Raipur: The tribals in Chhattisgarh will have to take permission from the Sub-Divisional officer instead of the collector before cutting trees. Governor Uikey approved the Chhattisgarh Protection of Primitive Tribes (Amendment) Bill 2022 which prohibits any person from damaging a tree planted on tribal land. Failure to comply shall mean a fine of one lakh rupees or three years of imprisonment. Earlier, this amount was ten thousand rupees.
The Bill was first introduced by the state government in the monsoon session wherein five sections of the principle Act have been amended and one section has been deleted. In case of a complaint, the SDM shall get the application investigated, and shall take the decision to grant permission after considering the joint inquiry report of the Revenue Department and the Forest Department.