Satellite technology will be used for processing claims of 1,62,000 tribals in Gujarat for their claims of possession of forest land under Forest Rights Act, state forest minister Mangubhai Patel said today.

This step comes after tribals failed to get support from their respective villages certifying them that they were cultivating these forest lands.

As per the Forest Rights Act 2006, two conditions have been laid down for allowing possession of land to 'Adivasis' which includes 'guntha' and support from village certifying tilling of forest land by these tribals.

There is no problem in getting 'guntha' (this unit is typically used to measure the size of a piece of land) for the claimants but compliance of the second condition is creating problems, and in a bid to resolve this issue, it was decided that satellite technology will be used in the process, Patel told PTI.

Besides this, recommendations from three different levels: samitis (committees) at village, Prant (taluka) and the Jilla (district) is also required, he said.

After receiving applications of 62,000 tribals as per the prescribed limit, the Gujarat government extended the limit conceding to requests of tribals and accepted 1,62,000 applications, Patel said.

Possession of land under Forest Rights Act has already been given to 17,147 adivasis in Gujarat, he said.

The state government had allotted titles of forest lands to 45,550 tribals before 1980 which made them the land owners.

But now, tribals will be given possession of forestlands for tilling as per the Act, Patel said.