Coffee farmers association accuse forest dept of land grabbing
Madikeri
: The
Karnataka Coffee Farmers' Association
accused the
forest department
of grabbing land from residents, which was granted to villagers many years ago.
Association president Dr Durga Prasad said the farmers stopped the forest department staff from going to Kalkandur village in Somwarpet to conduct a survey of the land.
This was in connection with the process of acquiring the land that was in the hands of farmers for many years for the forest.
Speaking at a meeting called at the association's office in Virajpet town, he said, "We support this struggle." Before Independence, 7,500 acres of forest land was leased to private individuals. Coffee, rubber, and tea plantations were established in that area, he said, asking for a comprehensive survey of the Paisari lands in Kodagu. The Kodagu district administration should prepare a list of encroachers, he suggested.
Vasant Kumar Hosamane of the district unit of the Karnataka
Coffee Farmers
' Association, Hamid, district member of the farmers' association, and other members were present.
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