Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is set to introduce a bill amending the Kerala Forest Act of 1961, increasing penalties for forest-related offences.

The proposed bill, expected to be tabled in the Assembly in January, aims to bring activities such as dumping plastic waste, sand mining, damaging fences and structures, entering forests with firearms or explosives, feeding or harassing wildlife, and fishing in forest rivers as criminal offences.

Under the proposed amendments, offenders could face imprisonment ranging from 1 to 5 years and fines between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000. The bill also outlines provisions for officials to arrest offenders without a warrant inside the forest. Meanwhile, forest watchers will have the authority to make arrests, a responsibility earlier limited to those under the ranks of the Beat Forest Officer and above.

This legislative move is part of the Forest Department's efforts to strengthen conservation measures and curb environmental violations.