Kerala Forest Act Amendment

The Kerala government has proposed the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to deter waste dumping in forest rivers and enhance the authority of forest officials. The Bill introduces provisions allowing officials to arrest without warrants, expand the scope of the Forest Act to include rivers flowing into forests, and significantly increase penalties for forest offences. Farmer organisations and local communities express concerns over potential misuse of power, increased scrutiny, and economic burdens on residents of 430 affected panchayats. Critics argue the amendments could lead to overreach by forest officials and disproportionately impact rural livelihoods.