Latest news with #KarnatakaForestAct
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Minister for denotifying forest land granted before notifying under Section 4 of forest Act
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has said the State government will submit a proposal to the Centre and seek denotification of land parcles that were granted for cultivation before they were notified as per Section 4 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. The Minister gave this assurance to elected representatives of the Chikkamagaluru district who met him in Bengaluru on Friday. This measure will help those people who have been cultivating such land for several decades without the rights of ownership. Preliminary step The elected representatives of Chikkamagaluru raised the issue of people who have been cultivating land parcels notified under Section 4. The State government has the power to notify a piece of land as per Section 4 of the Act, which is the preliminary step in declaring a reserved forest. Over the decades, vast tracts of land across the State, including Chikkamagaluru, have been notified under Section 4, but never declared as a reserved forest as per Section 17 of the Act, which is the final step. People who were granted such land before the notification have either cultivated or built houses there over the decades with no rights over the properties. Responding to their pleas, the Minister said the government would approach the Supreme Court with a plea as well in this regard. In several cases, land had been notified under Section 4 of the Act but remained at that stage without completing the process with a final notification as per Section 17. 'Approaching the Centre and the Supreme Court is inevitable, as denotifying such land is impossible as per the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980,' the Minister said. Buffer zone The elected representatives also opposed notifying 10 km around the sloth bear sanctuary in Arsikere taluk as a buffer zone. The residents of villages in Chikkagmaluru district would be affected by the move, they argued. The Minister said a proposal had been submitted to reduce it to 1 km and the issue would be resolved soon. Legislators T.D. Raje Gowda, H.D. Thammaiah, Nayana Motamma, K.S. Anand, G.H. Srinivas, and senior officers of the Forest Department and Chikkamagluru district administration were present at the meeting.
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Jersey: Gov Will Cover Your Cost To Install Solar If You Live In These Zips SunValue Learn More Undo "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.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Farmers move Karnataka HC against Brindavan Garden makeover
BENGALURU: Farmers of Mandya district have moved the Karnataka High Court against the state government's decision to transform Brindavan Garden at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam into a Disneyland-like space. Their public interest litigation alleged that the project is detrimental to the farming community. A vacation division bench of Justices BM Shyam Prasad and KV Aravind issued notices to various authorities of the state and central governments, including the Jal Shakti ministry, National Dam Authority, state chief secretary, water resources, agriculture, forest and ecology departments, Kaveri Neeravari Nigam Ltd and other authorities of Mandya district. This was after they heard the petition filed by K Boraiah and four others from KRS village and other surrounding villages, questioning the tenders issued to set up the amusement park in the name of Brindavan Garden Upgradation without statutory clearance, including from the gram panchayat. The government's decision is contrary to Articles 48-A and 53A of the constitution, Karnataka Forest Act, Environmental Protection Act 1986, and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, they said.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Forest land rights issues reviewed for displaced residents, forest dwellers
Shivamogga : A crucial meeting was held on Friday regarding the forest land rights of the Sharavathi hydel project 's displaced residents and traditional forest dwellers in Shivamogga district minister Madhu Bangarappa presided over the meeting held at Vidhana Soudha. Shivamogga district MLAs Gopal Krishna Belur, Sharada Poorya Nayak, MLC Balkis Banu, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh, along with senior district officials, attended the agenda covered several key points: Conversion of temporary house title deeds to permanent status and rectification of incorrect prescribed forest (PF) entries in land meeting also addressed timeline setting for the final notification of reserved forests under Section 4 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, creation of e-asset records for land title deeds issued by Mysore govt, and exclusion of rehabilitation lands of various dam project victims from forest land designation proposals. Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list The meeting also discussed the regularisation of forest lands occupied before April 27, 1978, transformation of forest villages to revenue villages under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and land rights for victims affected by Varahi, Chakra Savehaklu, Bhadra, Tunga, and other power and irrigation projects, including conversion of revenue plots (site) within 0.05 affirmed the govt's dedication to addressing these matters and delivering permanent solutions for the forest and land rights of affected inhabitants in Shivamogga offered positive assurance, providing clear instructions to officials for swift resolution.
