Preventions of erosion and protection of forests

(1) The Government may acquire, on payment of compensation, under section 9 of this Act any or part of jhumland, as it thinks, fit should be declared as protected forests, where it is required for preservation of water supply, or it appears that undue erosion of dimunition of the supply of water required or likely to be required for irrigation is resulting or is likely to result from the excessive cutting of trees from the Jhumland. (2) Where it appears that undue erosion or diminution of the supply of water required or likely to he required for irrigation is resulting or is likely to result from the cultivation of any jhumland the Deputy Commissioner may direct be general or special order that the jhumland shall not be cultivated by any person for a period not exceeding ten years. (3) For the purpose of protecting a road or briddle path the Deputy Commissioner may direct that any land lying within fifty metres of the road shall not be cultivated and may further direct that trees upon such land shall not be felled or cut. (4) No order shall be made under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) unless a reasonable opportunity has been given to those having customary rights to the Jhumland top refer objections against such order and unless all objections so preferred have been considered

and rejected as unreasonable or untenable.