Transfer of management of forests to Gram Panchayats.

(1) Subject to any law for the time being in force the Government may, by notification, transfer to any Gram Panchayat with its consent and subject to such conditions as may be agreed upon, the management and maintenance of forest adjacent to the village; and they may by a like notification withdraw management and maintenance of such forest from the Gram Panchayat after giving an opportunity to the Gram Panchayat to make its representation. (2) When the management and maintenance of any forest is transferred to Gram Panchayat under sub-section (1), the income derived by the Gram Panchayat from the forest under its management and maintenance or the expenditure incurred by the Gram Panchayat, for such a management and maintenance shall be apportioned between the Government and the Gram Panchayat in such manner as the Government may, by order, determine.