In response to forest department's opposition to giving community rights to freely sell, harvest and transport bamboo, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has said that Minor Forest Produce is a ownership right vested by Parliament under Forest Rights Act and all state authorities are obliged to respect this provision.
Read: Jairam Ramesh's letter
Just two days before the historic day when Mendha Lekha was set to become the first village in India to exercise its community right to harvest and sell freely bamboo under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), the forest department says without its permission no transit pass will be issued to take away bamboo. It is “illegal”
Read: Chief Conservator of Forests response
Mendha lekha in its gram sabha resolution has welcomed the chief minister. But has said if the forest department does not issue it transit pass for its harvested bamboo its rights will be incomplete
Read: Mendha Lekha's struggle for bamboo rights