Rajasthan

• 22 Mar 2024

Trade Bodies Urge Rajasthan Government to Make Changes in Investment Policies

Why in News?

Recently, trade bodies in Rajasthan requested the state to change policies like the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) and Mukhyamantri Laghu Udyog Protsahan Yojana (MLUPY) to make the state investor-friendly.

Key Points

• In the RIPS policy, investors get subsidies on state goods and services tax (SGST), electricity fee, land tax, stamp duty, etc.
• The MLUPY scheme provides concessional bank loans to facilitate establishment of enterprises in the state and create employment opportunities.
• A delegation of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) met Rajasthan’s principal secretary, industries & commerce.
  • In this it is pointed out that interest benefits under RIPS were available on term loans but not on working capital loans.
  • The delegation requested for industry-wide awareness programs about the schemes.
  • It also requested that the warehousing sector be covered under the preview of industries.

Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS)

• To promote rapid, sustainable and balanced industrial development in the state, ‘Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme-2019’ was implemented from 17^th December, 2019.
• In this, 75% recharge of 7 years SGST, electricity tax stamp duty is also being recharged for new investment in manufacturing and service sector industries.
  • Along with this, concessions like 100% in market fee are being given.

Mukhyamantri Laghu Udyog Protsahan Yojana (MLUPY)

• This scheme has been launched with the objective of providing subsidized loans through Financial institutions to facilitate the establishment of enterprises in the state and to provide new employment opportunities to all sections of society.
• Under the scheme, loans will be provided for manufacturing, service and business enterprises through financial institutions like (Nationalized Commercial Bank, Private Sector Scheduled Commercial Bank, Scheduled Small Finance Bank, Regional Rural Bank, Rajasthan Financial Corporation, SIDBI and Urban Cooperative Banks).

Rajasthan Communities at Risk of Losing Land

Why in News?

Recently, a Rajasthan state government notification has sparked fear among community dwellers in western Rajasthan, who are concerned about potential loss of access to forest produce and livelihood.

Key Points

• The community is apprehensive about the state’s proposal to recognise orans (sacred groves) as deemed forests.
• The government notification declares that, in compliance with directives from the Supreme Court (SC), orans, dev vans (sacred forests) and runds (traditionally conserved open forests) will be categorised as deemed forests.
  • The community through representation of the organisation “Gochar Oran Sanrakshak Sangh Rajasthan” has raised objection to the decision.
  • The village residents also depend on the forest for gum, timber, forest produce and wild vegetables, crucial for their livelihoods and daily needs.
  • If orans are declared as deemed forests, the people fear they will lose access to forest produce and grazing land for their herds and sheep.
• According to the officials, to prevent further degradation of such lands, the SC, in the TN Godavarman case, 1996, directed state governments to identify them and stipulated that all forests, including deemed forests, would be covered under section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
  • The provisions in this section prohibit non-forestry activities such as mining, deforestation, quarrying, or infrastructure projects on such forest land without permissions from the central government.
    • However, this does not restrict individuals or communities from accessing the forest for grazing or worship.

Deemed Forests

• Deemed forests, comprising about 1% of India’s forest land, are a controversial subject as they refer to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records.
• The concept of deemed forests has not even been clearly defined in any law including the Forest Conservation Act 1980.
• In the T N Godavarman Thirumalpad case 1996, SC accepted a wide definition of forests under the Act and held that the word ‘forest’ must be understood according to its dictionary meaning.
  • This description covers all statutorily recognised forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of Section 2 (1) of the Act and also includes any areas recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.
• The provisions for the conservation of forest and the matters connected therewith applies clearly to all forests irrespective of the ownership or classification.
• The freedom to define which tracts of forest qualify as forest has been the prerogative of States since 1996.
  • However, this only applies to forest land that has not already been historically classified as “forest” in revenue records, or categorised so by the government as “protected” or “reserve forest”.

Forest Conservation Act, 1980

• The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 stipulated that the central permission is necessary to practice sustainable agro-forestry in forest areas. Violation or lack of permit was treated as a criminal offence.
• It is targeted to limit deforestation, conserve biodiversity and save wildlife. Though this Act provides greater hope towards forest conservation it was not successful in its target.

SC Considers Lifting the Ban on Transmission Lines through GIB Habitats

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to release over 67,000 sq km area for setting up lines for transmission of solar power generated in Rajasthan and Gujarat but said 13,000 sq km area must remain undisturbed as it’s the core habitat of the endangered bird, Great Indian Bustard.

Key Points

• The Union government order banning overhead power cables for transmission of solar energy plants in 80,000 square km area is unimplementable.
• Further suggested a balance between encouraging solar energy generation to reduce emissions from coal-fired thermal power plants and all-out steps to do everything possible to save the GIB from getting extinct.

The Great Indian Bustard

• Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) , the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Threat:
  • The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.
• Protection Status:
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN): Critically Endangered
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I