Karnataka Forest Minister orders formation of Special Task Force to clear forest land encroachments
Bengaluru: Karnataka Environment and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has taken a step to address the issue of forest land encroachments in the state. He has directed the additional chief secretary for forest, ecology, and environment, Jawaid Akhtar, to establish a state-level task force to clear forest land encroachments.
Additionally, the minister has instructed the creation of a separate task force specifically for Bengaluru, where forest encroachments are a daily occurrence.
The directives were issued on September 22 and call for the task forces to comprise officials from various departments, including forest, revenue, home, urban development, rural development, and Panchayati raj.
Minister Khandre emphasized the importance of protecting forested areas, even those with a history of land records dating back a century. He noted that any alterations to the forest landscape can have adverse ecological consequences. Despite the existence of land records, forested areas continue to face encroachments, leading to disruptions in the ecological balance.
The minister acknowledged the coordination between the forest department and the revenue department but stressed the forest department's responsibility for preserving and scientifically managing designated forest areas and freeing them from encroachments. He expressed concern that the eviction of encroachers often stalls due to legal challenges and that encroachment cases have not been consistently pursued to resolution.
These task forces would focus on clearing various encroachment cases and expediting the resolution of pending eviction cases, even if they are at different stages of the legal process. He recommended that the task forces be headed by senior forest department officials and include experts from relevant departments.
Moreover, the minister highlighted the importance of providing government lawyers with access to relevant land records and satellite maps to facilitate the settlement of encroachment cases.
According to the Karnataka Forest Department's Annual Report 2022-23, the state witnesses over 1,000 forest encroachment cases annually. Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, the forest department registered 992 encroachment cases. As of March 31, 2023, a backlog of 45,071 encroachment cases existed within the department. During the same period, only 463 cases were disposed of, leaving 44,608 cases pending resolution.
In Bengaluru Urban district alone, out of a total of 16,988 acres of forest land, 2,871.37 acres are encroached upon, as reported by Minister Khandre in July to the Legislative Council.
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RSS has global network of over 2,500 groups for money laundering: Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has alleged involvement of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a money transfer network at global level.
Posting his allegation on his personal ‘X’ account on Saturday morning, Kharge said that he was referring to an issue that had not been dealt with decisively by Indian media houses.
“Here is a crucial story that the Indian media will never touch,” the minister has said, and clarified, “This so-called “body of individuals” has built a global network of over 2,500 affiliated organisations. Through these fronts, the RSS collects “guru dakshina” to fuel its divisive agenda. (sic)”
Kharge has further alleged, “The world’s largest NGO is running amok, laundering money and evading accountability.”
The minister added, “Here is a map of their organisational architecture of their “Vichar Parivaar.” https://rssproject.caravanmagazine.in / @thecaravanindia”
