Section 5 in The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023
5.Amendment of section 2.
In the principal Act, section 2 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof and—(a)in sub-section (1) as so renumbered,—(I)in clause (iii), for the words "not owned, managed or controlled by Government", the words ", subject to such terms and conditions, as the Central Government may, by order, specify" shall be substituted;(II)in the Explanation, for the long line occurring after clause (b), the following shall be substituted, namely:—"but does not include any work relating to or ancillary to conservation, development and management of forests and wildlife, such as—(i)silvicultural operations including regeneration operations;(ii)establishment of check-posts and infrastructure for the front line forest staff;(iii)establishment and maintenance of fire lines;(iv)wireless communications;(v)construction of fencing, boundary marks or pillars, bridges and culverts, check dams, waterholes, trenches and pipelines;(vi)establishment of zoo and safaris referred to in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, owned by the Government or any authority, in forest areas other than protected areas;(vii)eco-tourism facilities included in the Forest Working Plan or Wildlife Management Plan or Tiger Conservation Plan or Working Scheme of that area; and(viii)any other like purposes, which the Central Government may, by order, specify.";(b)after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—"(2) The Central Government may, by order, specify the terms and conditions subject to which any survey, such as, reconnaissance, prospecting, investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest purpose.".
