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New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) Objecting to displacement of the Scheduled Tribes populations from the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the tribal affairs ministry has directed as many as nine states to ensure implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

Tribal Affairs Minister Kanti Lal Bhuria has written to chief ministers of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand making it clear that tribals cannot be displaced without settling their rights under the act.

The letter clarifies that no eviction and resettlement is permissible till all the formalities are completed in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

The Forests Rights Act recognises and guards rights of the Scheduled Tribes populations and other traditional forest dwellers over forest lands in the national parks and sanctuaries also.

Officials from the ministry said the letter was in coordination with the environment and forest ministry which has issued instructions to all state forest departments to faithfully implement the provisions of the Forest Rights Act before taking any decision to evict those living in these areas.

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