The Union Environment Ministry has extended the deadline for submitting comments and suggestions on the proposed amendments in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 till November 1. The earlier date of sending in suggestions was October 15.

It had put out a consultation paper on the same ten days ago, seeking people’s views.

The Ministry’s consultation paper had drawn much criticism for the proposed amendments and the barely 15 days given for people to send in comments and suggestions.

Several activists had also demanded that the Consultation Paper be made available in all 22 official languages of the state. Sources in the Environment Ministry said, even that will be done soon.

Earlier, the Consultation Paper too had been posted online on October 4, but it was dated October 2, thus effectively leaving just 13 days for comments/suggestions.

Among other activists, environment conservationists and founder members, Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE), Vikrant Tongad demanded the Consultation Paper be made available in 22 languages. Tongad was instrumental in getting the Ministry to translate the draft of a similar proposed amendment in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Act in 22 official languages, according to news agencies.

“If it is for public comments, this needs to be put out in all regional languages. There needs to be widespread publicity for the material to reach a large number of people, the real stakeholders,” Tongad said, and added, “If not, then the basic question is, why is it not opened for public consultation?”

Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) had on Sunday written a letter to the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, demanding extension of the consultation window for proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act and availability of the proposed draft in non-English languages as well.