Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 21: Deputy forest conservator, Vijayakumar, has said that the assistant forest conservator has been asked to review the sanction of 10.5 acres of land in Kalmadka village of Sullia taluk,  to an education trust of which MP, D V Sadandanda Gowda, is the chairman.  The review is being conducted because of objections received against this sanction, it is learnt.

In the past, both revenue and forest department had undertaken a joint survey of the land located at survey No. 171/P7 in Kalmadka village, which was proposed to be sanctioned to K S Gowda Education Trust. In his report, the assistant forest conservator had said that the department has no objection to sanction this land to the trust, as it is located outside the plantation raised by the department. However, objections were filed by individuals, saying that the survey was not proper, and that request for this particular piece of land for other purposes was declined in the past. If the objections are valid, the department will not be able to allow the land to be used by the said trust, it is learnt.

In the meanwhile, a local has complained to the Lokayukta relating to the sanction of the said land. In a complaint filed on March 16, M Gangadhar Gowda from Marakkada House in Kalmadka village has alleged that a file was prepared relating to sanctioning of the said land in the name of a private educational institution, with the specific aim of grabbing of the land. He said that the forest conservator had earlier rejected the requests made by Dakshina Kannada Bharatiya Kissan Sangh’s branch in Enmoor Sullia and Koraga Abhivriddhi Sangha for the allotment of the same land, citing that it was a forest land. He said that there is no provision to grant this land to the proposed educational institution, as thick forest stands on this piece of land even now.