India, Jan. 7 -- India's environment ministry has amended forest conservation rules to allow private plantations in forest areas without paying key environmental levies

The change removes requirements for Net Present Value payments and compensatory afforestation

Former forest officials and tribal rights groups warn the move could weaken safeguards and affect forest-dependent communities

The central government has amended forest conservation rules to allow private entities to undertake commercial plantations in forest areas without paying long-standing environmental levies, a move that has raised concerns among former forest officials, environmentalists and tribal rights groups.

The change, notified by the Union Ministry of Environment...