In exercise of the
powers conferred by section 32 of the Indian Forests Act, 1927 (XVI of 1927)
the Government of Maharashtra hereby makes the following rules namely :- (A)
These rules may be called
the Maharashtra Protected Forests (Marathwada/Konkan and West ern Maharashtra)
Rules, 1998. (B)
These rules will extend to
Konkan and Western Maharashtra including Marathwada region of Maharashtra
State. (C)
Nothing in these rules shall
apply to forest produce on an occupied area or village site. In these rules,
unless the context otherwise requires,- (A)
?Protected Forest? means an
area declared as protected forests, within the meaning of section 29 of the
Indian Forests Act, 1927. (B)
?Right of nistar? means the
right of inhabitants for a village/villages in the vicinity of protected
Forests for removing there from forest produce for their own bona fide use
either free or on payment as provided in the ?Nistar Patrak? prepared under the
provisions of section 161 to 167 of Chapter X of the Maharashtra Land Revenue
Code, 1966. (C)
?Closure? means the areas
where all rights and concessions are suspended for the period stipulated in
section 30(b). ?The Dy. Conservator
of Forests/Sub-Divisional Forest Officer of independent Sub- Division shall
from time to time set aside, in consultation with the Collec- tor,- (1)
areas of suitable size in a
protected forests containing forest produce for exercising the right of nistar
in village or villages adjoining such protected forests and (2)
Compact areas containing
timber trees and other forest produce, therein having commercial value for
management by the State Government. No trees of any
species whatsoever shall be cut, removed or burnt for the purpose of
manufacturing charcoal, except with a previous permission of the Dy.
Conservator of Forests/Sub-Divisional Forest Officer of independent
Sub-Division. Subject to the
provision of rule (6) no trees of the species falling under clause (a) and (b)
of this rule, shall be cut without the previous permission in writing of the
Dy. Conservator of Forests/Sub-Divisional Forest Officer of independent
Sub-Division. (i)
Declared on and with effect
from the 27th November, 2001 the following classes of trees in the protected
forests, in the Konkan, Marathwada and Western Region of Maharashtra State to
be reserved namely :- (a)
For Konkan Region S. No. Local Name of
the Tree Botanical (Latin) Name 1. Ain Terminalia
tomentosa. 2. AI or Ashi Moringa
tinctoria. 3. Amba Mangifera
indica. 4 Apta Bauhinia
recemosa. 5. Asana Bridelia
retusa. 6. Arjun Sadada Terminalia
arjuna. 7. Avali Phyllanthus
amblica. (Syn. Emblica officinalies). 8. Bamboo Dendro
calamus strictus. 9. Bel Aegle
marmelos. 10. Bava (Bhava) Cassia
fistula. 11. Behada Terminalia
belerica. 12. Bhokar (Shelute) Cordia
myxa. 13. Bhor Jambul Ammania
baccifera. 14. Biba Semecarpus
anacardium. 15. Bija Pterocarpus
marsupium. 16. Bor Zizyphus
Jujuba. (Syn. Zizyphus mauritiana). 17. Char, Chroli Buchnania
lanzen. 18. Chera Erinocarpus
nimmognus. 19. Chinch Tamarindus
indica. 20. Dhaman Gravia
tiliaefolia. 21. Dhavda Anogeissus
latifolia. 22. Dikemali Gardenia
lucida. 23. Ghatbor Zizyphus
xylopyra. 24. Hed (Haldu)Adina
cardifolia. 25. Hirda Terminalia
chebula. 26. Jamba Xylia
xylocarpa. 27. Jambhul Eugenia
Jambolana. (Syn. Syzygium cuminii). 28. Kalam Stephegyne
parvifolia (Syn. Mitragyna parvifolia). 29. Kandol Sterculia
urans. 30. Karanj Pongamia
glabra. (Syn. Pongamia Pinnata.) 31. Kaju Anacardium
occidentale. 32. Kavath Feronia
elephantum. 33. Khair Acacia
catechu. 34. Kharshing Steraospermum
xylocarpum. 35. Khavas Sterculia
colorata. 36. Kinhai Albizzia
procera. 37. Kokam (Ratambi) Garcinia
indica. 38. Kusum (Koshimb) Scheleichera
trijuge. (Syn. Scheleichera oleosa). 39. Kura Ixora
parviflora. (Syn. Ixora arborea). 40. Lokhandi Ixora
nigricans. 41. Mokha Schrebera
swietenioides. 42. Moha or Mowhra Bassla
latilia (Madhuca indica). 43. Nana Lagerstroemia
microcarpa 44. Nandruk Ficus
retusa. 45. Palas Butea
frondosa. (Syn. Butea monosperma). 46. Pandhra Khair
(Kanti) Acacia feruginea. 47. Pangara Erythrina
indica. (Syn. Murrayapaniculata). 48. Phasi Delbergia
paniculata. 49. Raktarohida Maba
nigrescene. 50. Ritha Sapindus
emarginta. 51. Sag (Teak) Tectona
grandis. 52. Sawar Bombax
malabarica/Cieba (Syn. Salmalia malabarica). 53 Shemat Odina
wodier (Syn. Lannea coromandelica) 54. Shenkhair Acacia
siamia. (Syn. Lannea Coromandellia) 55. Shendri or Kamala
Mellotus philippinensis. 56. Shindi Phoenix
sylyvestrix. 57. Shivan Gmelina
arborea. 58. Shisham Dalbergia
latifolia. 59. Tembhurni Diospyros
melanoxylon. 60. Tiwas Ougeinia
delbergioides (Syn. Ougoinia cojeinensis). 61.Tetu Oroxylum
indicum. 62. Toddy Plant Borassus
flabellifer. 63. Umbar Ficus
glomerata. 64. Vad Ficus
bengalensis. 65. Fanas Artocarpus
integrifolia. 66. Sandal Wood Santalum
album. (b) For Western
Maharashtra, including Marathwada Region S. No. Vernacular Name Botanical
Name (1) (2) (3) 1.Ain (Sadada) Terminalia
tomentosa 2.Mango (Amba) Mangifera
indica. 3.Anjan Hardwickia
binata. 4.Arjun Sadada Terminalia
arjuna. 5.Awala Phyllanthus
amblica (Syn. Emblica Officinalies). 6. Bel Aegle
mannelos. 7. Behada Terminalia belerica. 8. Bhendi Thespesia
populanea. 9. Bhokar (Shelute) Cordia
myxa. 10. Bor Zizyphus
Jujuba. 11. Bamboo Dendrocalamus
strictus. 12. Chandan Santalum
album. 13. Hirda Terminalia
chebula. 14. Hed (Haldu) Adina
cardifolia. 15. Bija Pterocarpus
marsupium. 16. Kadai Sterculia
urens. 17. Kalamb Stephegyne
parvifolia. 18. Char Charoli Buchnania
latifolia. 19. Chinch Tamarindus
indica. 20. Dharnan Gravia
tiliaefolia. 21. Dhavda Anogeissus
latifolia. 22. Dikemali Gardenia
lucida. 23. Ghatbor Zizyphus
xylopyra. 24. Gorakh Chinch Adansonia
digitata. 25. Hingan Balanities
roxburghi. 26. Hiwar Acacia
leucophloea. 27. Jambhul Syxygium
cumini. 28. Kashid Cassia
siamea. 29. Kajarba Strychnospomtorum. 30. Karanj Pongamia
pinnata. 31. Kanchan Bauhinia
malabarica. 32. Kavath Feronia
elephantum. 33. Khair (lal) Acacia
chundra. 34. Kinhi Albizzia
procera. 35. Khair Acacia
catechu. 36. Khair
(Son/Pandhara) Acacia feruginea. 37. Kumbha Careya
arborea. 38. Lokhandi Ixora
nigricuns. 39. Medsing Dolichandrone
falcuta. 40. Maharukh Ailanthus
excelsa. 41. Moha Maduca
indica. 42. Murmati Acacia
embumea. 43. Neem Azadirachata
indica. 44. Palas Butea
monosperma. 45. Pangara, Mandar Erythrina
indica. 46. Pimpal or Peempal
Ficus religiosa. 47. Sag (Teak) Tectona
grandis. 48. Salai Boswellia
serrata. 49. Sawar Bombax
malabarica/cieba. 50. Ritha Sapindus
emarginata. 51. Jamba Xylia
xylocigera. 52. Shammi, Soundad Prosopis
spicigera. 53. Shindi Phoenix
sylvistris. 54. Shivan Gmelina
arborea. 55. Sisso, Shisham Dalbergia
latifolia. 56. Setaphal Annona
squamosa. 57. Tendu Diospyros
melanoxylon. 58. Umbar Ficus
glomerata. 59. Vad Ficus
benegalensis. 60. Vedi Babhul Prosopis
juliflora. (b)
Trees of any size growing
within 20 mtrs. of mtrs. of edge of the bank of any water course therein
provided that no such permission shall be necessary for cutting small branches
upto 5 cm. in diameter at the cut end of babul and other thorny trees or thorny
shrubs. (1)
No fruit trees or tree
falling under clause (a) of rule 5 upto 23 cm. Girth at breast height shall be
cut. (2)
All trees felled shall be
cut flush with the ground. (3)
No tree may be girdled or
pollarded. (4)
(i) In bamboo clumps, no
culm under one year of age shall be cut, and in each clump at least 8 culm over
one year of age shall be retained, (ii)
All bamboo clumps shall be cut within 30 cm. From ground level. (5)
Except with the permission
of the Dy. Conservator of Forest/Sub-Divisional Forest Officer of independent
SubDivision in the case of palas, the roots of trees shall not be dug up. (6)
Except with the permission
in writing by the Dy. Conservator of Forest/Sub-Divisional Forests Officers of
independent SubDivision, no forest produce shall be removed from a protected
forest between sunset and sunrise. (7)
All forest produce removed
from a protected forest shall be covered by a transit pass issued by the person
duly authorised in that behalf and may be examined by the Forest Officer at the
nakas or places specified by the Dy. Conservator of Forest/Sub-Divisional
Forests Officers of independent Sub-Division in that behalf. (8)
(1) Subject to any
restriction which the Dy. Conservator of Forest/ Sub-Divisional Forests
Officers of independent Sub-Division may be special or general order impose in
that behalf, every person holding land in the village outside the Scheduled
areas as prescribed in section 246 of Constitution of India, the village
artisan and agricultural labour shall be entitled to collect minor forest
produce (other than harra, lac, rusa, grass, tendu leaves and gum) and minor
minerals viz. Grass, leaves of mahu and teak, bakkal, edible roots, and leaves
of mahu and teak bakkal, edible roots and edible fruits and flowers and flowers
from the protected forest of the village. (2)
Nothing in this rule shall debar a person from collecting harra, lac, rosha,
grass, tendu leaves and gum and produce of mahua trees found in his own land
adjacent to a protected forest. (9)
(1) No person shall as
provided in rule 8 have a right to collect any lac, harra, rosha, grass, apta,
tendu leaves and gum which are of commercial value. (2)
The right to collect lac, harra, rosha, grass, apta, tendu leaves and gum from
the protected forest of the village shall save as otherwise provided in rule 8
be auctioned by the Dy. Conservator of Forest/Sub-Divisional Forests Officers
of independent Sub-Division. (10)
(A) The Dy. Conservator of
Forests/Sub-Divisional Forests Officers of independent Sub-Division in
consultation with the Collector, shall by order declare a protected forest to
be open to persons of any village or contiguous villages adjoining a protected
forest for the purpose of exercising their rights of nistar and there upon any
person residing in such village or villages may subject to provision of section
161 to 167 of Chapter X of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 cut and
remove for his own use only (and not for sale barter or gift) any forest
produce not exceeding such quantity as is set out in the Nistar Patrak of the
reduced quantity as may be determined by the Dy. Conservator of
Forest/Sub-Divisional Forests Officers of independent Sub-Division in
consultation with the Collector, when the total quantity of the forest produce available
is not enough to meet the full requirements of such persons. (1)
No person shall set fire to
any portion of a protected forest or shall set fire in the vicinity of a
protected forest so as to cause damage to any timber, laying in such forest or
to any trees reserved under section 30 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. (2)
All persons, who are
permitted to remove forest produce according to these rules shall inform the
nearest forest officer of the occurrence of a fire and shall take steps,
whether or not so required by the Forest Officer- (a)
to extinguish any forest
fire of which he has knowledge and (b)
to prevent by any lawful
means in his power any fire in the vicinity of such forest from spreading to
such forest. (B)
No forest produce granted as nistar or concession or as a right shall either be
sold or barter away. (11)
The Cultivators (including
malik, makbuzas) village artisan and labourers shall subject to the provisions
of section 163 and the provision of Chapter X of the Maharashtra Land Revenue
Code, 19(36 be entitled for removal of grass by headloads for stall feeding of
such cattle kept for agricultural purpose free of charge in a protected forest
as follows :- (a)
cultivators 2 plough units. (b)
Agricultural artisans and
labourers : (i)
4 cattle including one she buffalo. (ii)
Provided further that a calf
under six months shall not be counted, (iii)
Provided further that
animals in excess of those specified in clause (a) and (b) shall be charged as
the State Government may from time to time sanction in this behalf. Explanation.-- (1)
Cattle units : The Cattle
units should be computed as follows : (a)
Adult buffalo Units. (b)
Adult cow, bull or bullock 1
Unit. (c)
Buffalo calf under three
years of age at the commencement of the Grazing year 1 Unit. (d)
Cow calf 1/2 Unit. (2)
Plough Unit; Shall mean for
cattle units computed as per details given in (1) above. (12)
No such person shall removed
grass by headloads for shall feedings of his cattle in accordance with the
provisions of sub-rule (1) except under a licence for headloads granted by a
person duly authorised in that behalf and in accordance with the conditions
thereof. (13)
All plantation raised on
protected forest shall be declared closed for removal of grass by headloads and
exercise of other rights/concessions for 10 years, provided, while closing
under section 30(b) the enough area shall be kept assigned for the local
population to exercise their rights/ concessions. (14)
No further rights or
concessions shall accrue to any individual or community, after the area has
notified as protected forest under section 29. (15)
The breaking of soil for
whatsoever purpose shall be strictly prohibited. (16)
Whatsoever violates the
provision contained in section 10(b) of the above rules, shall on conviction be
punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not
exceeding Rs. 1,000 or both.THE MAHARASHTRA PROTECTED FORESTS
[MARATHWADA/KONKAN AND WESTERN MAHARASHTRA] RULES, 1998
PREAMBLE