Encroached: 10,000 acres of Forest Land in and Around Bangalore

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 28: Over 10,000 acres of forest land in and around Bangalore has been encroached by land developers, industries, Bangalore Development Authority and educational institutions.

This dire state of affairs was revealed by Karnataka’s Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar in Bangalore on Saturday.

Fast track court would be set up to settle over 70,000 cases and recover encroached forest lands in 40 blocks, he said.

The extent of forest lands in 40 blocks was spread over 24,000 acres. But barely 11,000 acres was under the control of the department in and around Bangalore.

The erstwhile rulers of Mysore had given 600 acres to the HMT factory. But the factory management has sold 20 acres.

The BDA and private land developers had encroached forest land and formed housing sites.

The department would create 40 separate files block-wise and assign responsibility to officials to recover lands.

Encroached lands would be developed into parks for the benefit of the public, he said.
Bangalore University and Electronic City buildings too have been constructed on forest lands.

The department has recovered encroached forest land at Turahalli in the city and built a compound wall to protect the land, he said.
 

Nagarahole forest fires
 
Principal Conservator of Forests B K Sing, who has inspected forest fires in Nagarahole National Park (NNP), said some tribals on instigation by their leader and NGOs put fire in park causing damage to the extent of 509 hectares.

In his report on forest fires submitted to the Forest Department, Singh said: ''The fire was started by some tribals on the instigation of their leaders and NGOs. It has been planned systematically and implemented by some had picked few tribals of Gondigadde, Nagarahole Gadde, and Bommadhadi.”

The fire was started in 15 to 20 different places adjoining Kaitode, Marappa, and Kunturhadlus on February 26, 2012.

“While determining the rights under the Forest Rights Act, there was pressing demand of survey of these hadlus for their rights of the tribals, who left the place 10 years ago and were not in possession, as on cut of date of December 13, 2005. Tribals came forward to claim the right in 2011,” the report said.