Jamshedpur, Nov. 10: Even as tribes living in Singhbhum’s reserved forests, continue to erode green cover through traditional jhoom cultivation, forest authorities have decided to set up eco-development committees to stop deforestation and retrieve encroached land.

The proposed committees will comprise mostly tribals and a considerable number of forest officials in it as representatives.

The first such committee will be set up in Saranda followed by those for forests in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.

According to sources in the forest department, jhoom cultivation is an age-old practice amongst tribals living in forests.

The practice is more prevalent in forests of north-eastern states, particularly amongst nomadic tribes.

In this kind of cultivation, large patches of forest land are set afire in summer and cultivation is carried on in the vacant plots. The burnt wood and leaves act as manure for the crops.

But in forests of Singhbhum — particularly in Saranda — tribals have a tendency to grab forest land after cultivation is over.

Divisional forest officer of Saranda H.S. Gupta said that Saranda had 85,000 hectares of forest area, of which tribals had grabbed as much as 4,000 hectares through jhoom cultivation.

The trend of grabbing forest land developed after the government of India abolished contract system of work in forests in 1982, rendering tribals jobless, he added.

Prior to 1982, most tribals earned their living working as contract labourers in forests.

Gupta said after the formation of the new state, the forest department initiated steps to stop Jhoom cultivation and also to retrieve encroached land.

It could recover only 400 hectares, with jhoom cultivation still being carried on.

“We had to find ways of stopping the age-old practice and for retrieving encroached land. The forest committees will go about spreading awareness among tribals of the uselessness of Jhoom cultivation as they get only one crop a year through this method,” he said

“The committees will also try to lure them away from the practice by promising them employment in temporary forest jobs,” he added.

Elaborating on the proposed eco-development committees, the Divisional forest officer said there were 44 revenue villages inside Saranda and the tribals living there were still governed by the Wilkinson Rules formulated in 1860.

He said, “Under Wilkinson Rules, tribals living in Saranda have the right to carry on jhoom cultivation.”

“Neither the civil administration nor the forest administration can use force to stop them from practising the jhoom method of farming. This was the reason that led us to form the eco-development committee,” he added.