Photo used for indicative purpose only. source: Internet
HP to treat ‘Charagah Bila Drakhtan’ as Forest land under FRA, orders fast-track settlement of claims
Shimla, Apr 11,
The Himachal Pradesh Government has directed that lands recorded as “Charagah bila drakhtan” (grazing land without trees) be treated as forest land for the purpose of recognizing rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
The decision was taken at the 21st meeting of the State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) held on March 28, 2026, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta. The committee issued directions to revenue authorities across the state to process claims over such grazing lands under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) within a stipulated timeframe.
Officials said the move assumes importance as large tracts of charagah bila drakhtan land are presently recorded under village proprietary bodies as common lands, often excluding forest-dependent communities from formal recognition of their rights. By bringing these lands within the ambit of the FRA, the government aims to address long-pending claims of forest dwellers and traditional users.
The committee also reviewed the progress of claims filed by Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs), in line with recent directions of the Supreme Court of India to evolve a mechanism for time-bound disposal of such claims.
Among key decisions, the SLMC directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, to ensure that 28 Community Forest Resource (CFR) titles — including those from Rajgundha and Bakhlog in Baijnath subdivision — are incorporated into the Record of Rights (RoR) by May 30, 2026. It also mandated prioritised disposal of claims over charagah bila drakhtan land within two months and immediate action on maintenance, extraction and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) in areas where titles have already been granted.
As per official data placed before the committee, out of a total of 868 community claims, 156 titles have been recognised covering 25,364 hectares, including 94 titles granted to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and 62 to Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs). In respect of individual forest rights, 942 titles have been approved out of 6,100 claims, covering 72.4 hectares, including 779 titles issued to STs and 163 to OTFDs.
The Chief Secretary directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the process in a systematic and time-bound manner, with a focus on clearing pending claims within two months, particularly those relating to grazing lands now brought under the FRA framework.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
