Forest dept launches major drive to reclaim encroached lands
Mysuru: The forest department in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar has initiated a comprehensive drive to identify and reclaim encroached forest lands. Early this week, the Mysuru forest department reclaimed eight acres of forest land in Hunsur.
The forest department is currently investigating encroachments of a minimum of three acres and above, and measures are being taken. They are either evacuating encroachments by individuals or cancelling illegal grants of land by the revenue department by producing records.
About eight acres of land in Gagenahalli in Hunsur, which was granted to an individual in early 1993, was reclaimed by the forest department on June 3.
The forest department approached the assistant commissioner's court with records claiming the ownership of the land. The AC court, early this week, passed an order cancelling the land grant to the villager.
Conservator of forests (Mysuru Circle) M Malathi Priya told TOI that the foresters have formed teams in respective jurisdictions to identify the encroachment of forest lands and take measures to reclaim them.
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"In both Mysuru and Mandya districts, which are part of the Mysuru Circle, personnel are working and have reclaimed several tracts of encroached land. Initially, the encroachment of land, which is three acres and above, is being investigated," the CF explained.
"Some lands were illegally granted by the revenue department some time back. Based on our land records, the forest personnel are approaching the assistant commissioner's court to take back the land," the IFS officer said.
Chief conservator of forests (Chamarajanagar Circle) T Heeralal explained that all illegal encroachments are being removed in the border district of Chamarajanagar, and the process is under way. "Respective range forest officers in the circle are evicting unauthorised occupants from the reserved forests, district forest, village forest, and protected forest as per the provisions of the Karnataka Forest Act.
In some cases, foresters are approaching revenue courts claiming possession of land," he said.
"Where the encroachment of reserved forest land is less than three acres, a rehabilitation process is required. Jurisdiction officers are acting accordingly and clearing encroachments from forest land," the CCF stated.
Forest minister Eshwar Khandre recently revealed that about 6,000 acres of encroached forest land were removed in Karnataka, and the process to reclaim leased land too is under way.
The department has initiated strict measures to remove illegal occupants from all forest lands.
An officer said the reclamation process includes the removal of illegal structures, restoration of natural vegetation, and installation of boundary markers. The forest department is also planning to implement additional protective measures such as trenching and fencing in sensitive areas to prevent future encroachments.
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