Wasteland Rule and Forest Act


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Wasteland Rule and Forest Act

Wasteland Rules and Forest Acts: The government granted selected individuals various concessions and encouraged to settle them in these areas.

  • Even some of them were made as headmen of villages. In most areas, the lands taken over were actually grazing tracts used regularly by pastoralists as their customary rights.
  • They believed that grazing destroyed the saplings and young shoots of trees that germinated on the forest floor.
  • The herds crushed the saplings and munched away shoots. These prevented new trees to grow.
  • The Forest Acts made by the British Government changed the lives of pastoralists. Some forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared as reserved.
  • In the reserved forests, no pastoral activity was allowed and in the protected forests their activity was strictly restricted. In the protected forests, they needed a permit for entry. The permit specified the timing of their entry and departure. If they overstayed there, they were liable to fines.
  • EFFECTS OF WASTELANDS RULES:

    All grazing lands were considered as wastelands by the colonial rulers as they brought no revenue to the government. So the government passed wastelands rules as a result of which all the uncultivated lands (including grazing lands) were taken over and handed over to select individuals. As a result of which the pastures vanished like anything within no times which created a lot of problems for the pastrolists.

     
     


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