Local officials can't grant permission for filming in forests: Minister Eshwar Khandre

Vartha Bharati | 24-01-2025 | 19:52:00 IST

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre

Bengaluru, Jan 24 (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to make it mandatory to obtain permission from the "appropriate" authorities for any kind of filming in the state's forest areas.

At present, even local-level authorities are issuing permits, he added.

In an order dated January 20, addressed to Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Forest, Biology and Environment Department, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Khandre said, as of now, only the Deputy Conservator of Forests is authorised to permit shooting in the forest area.

"But local level authorities are permitting various types of shooting in the forest areas. Due to this, there is a possibility of confidential information about the forest area being available to the outside world. Further, due to lack of awareness of the sensitivity of the forest and wildlife, there is also a possibility of damage to the environment and biodiversity," stated the order.

He also highlighted recent media reports on the potential problems arising from filming in forest areas and the seriousness of crimes associated with it.

Early this week, many reports highlighted how while shooting for ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, also referred to as ‘Kantara 2’, in and around Gavibetta, Herur village in Sakleshpur taluk, Yasalur area of Hassan district, the film crew had violated rules, causing damage to wildlife or flora and fauna.

In his order, Khandre stated that, in the interest of conserving forests and wildlife and ensuring a better environment for future generations, officials have been directed to make it mandatory to obtain appropriate government permission for any kind of filming in the state's forest areas.

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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka

13-05-2026 ¦ 13-05-2026 IST

R. Ashoka

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.

Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.

He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.

Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.

He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.

Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.

He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.