(1)Subject to the provisions of rules laid down hereinafter agriculturists residing within or owning land in a village or villages shall be permitted to obtain either free of charge or on payment their nistar and Paidawar requirements from the protected forest to which they have been or may be attached according to the rules and orders for the time being in force.Explanation. - The expressions "Nistar requirements" and "Paidawar requirements" means the nistar and paidawar required for the purpose of bona fide domestic consumption and not for gift, barter, sale, export or wasteful use.(2)The quantum of nistar and paidawar requirements permitted under sub-rule (1) shall be subject to the actual requirements of each individual and limited to availability of nistar material. Where available nistar material falls short of the total requirement, the nistar material shall be equitably rationed.(3)(a)The Divisional Forest Officer shall, from time to time, specify the area from which the nistar is to be obtained each year and the villagers shall obtain their nistar only from such areas.(b)The Divisional Forest Officer shall, from time to time, specify and reserve a reasonable area for the exercise of occupational nistar and prescribe the quantum of material which could be obtained from such area under exploitation limited to availability of material, after meeting the "Nistar" and "Paidawar" requirements of agriculturists under sub-rule (2).(4)(a)The Collector shall, in consultation with the Divisional Forest Officer, from time to time and in accordance with the rules or orders for the time being in force specify the villages the residents of which shall be permitted to obtain their requirements of nistar and paidawar under commutation.(b)Subject to sub-rule (a), commutation shall be permitted only to those villagers who obtain a commutation pass after payment of the commutation fees in accordance with the rules or orders for the time being in force.(5)(a)No person shall take his nistar requirements from the protected forests without a pass or a valid licence exempted by the Divisional Forest Officer by specific or general order in writing in this behalf.(b)The Divisional Forest Officer shall regulate the issue of passes.(c)Unless exempted by the Divisional Forest Officer under sub-rule (a), every person entering a protected forest for taking nistar shall carry with him the nistar pass or a valid licence and shall obtain nistar from the forest in accordance with the provisions of these rules.
