Q1. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, under which the Stage-I clearance was granted for the Puri airport, is chiefly meant to:
A Allow unrestricted transfer of forest land for any development project without Central scrutiny.
B Regulate the de-reservation of forests and diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, requiring prior approval of the Central Government. Correct
C Provide financial aid to state forest departments for purchasing wildlife ambulances.
D Lay down minimum support prices for forest produce collected by tribal communities.
Explanation
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is an Act of Parliament enacted to provide for the conservation of forests by regulating their de-reservation and the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Any such diversion requires prior approval of the Central Government, which is why the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had to issue Stage-I clearance for the Puri airport. The Act is not about unrestricted transfer, wildlife ambulances, or MSPs for forest produce.