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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Another incident of alleged insult to Islamic prayer reported in Belthangady
case lodged against 47 individuals
Belthangady: Another incident involving individuals allegedly dancing indecently, dressed in a denigrating manner, and insulting the Azan (Islamic call to prayer) has come to light under the jurisdiction of the Venoor Police Station. A case has been lodged against 17 accused persons and 20 to 30 others who were allegedly involved in the act.
Based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Rafiq, a resident of Poyyegudde house in Padangady village, a case has been registered at Venoor police station against Savya residents Vasantha, Rajesh, Harish, Peradi residents Dayanand, Ranganath, Mohan, Shamit, Ravi, Ramesh Kulal, Suresh, Ashoka Kulal, Dhanush Haradottu, Harish Banthottu, Ramesh R.K, Suresh Barottu, Pramod, Prakash Peradi and 20 to 30 other individuals.
A case has been registered under Section 353(2) along with Section 3(5) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for disrespecting Islam, Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic prayer Azhan by wearing Muslim attire during a 'Purusha Kattuna' event on April 14th.
A video of the incident is reportedly circulating on various social media platforms. In the purported video, a group of individuals can be seen wearing traditional Muslim attire and allegedly insulting the Azan by dancing indecently during a 'Purusha Kattuna' (a ritualistic dance performed by men of different castes, typically marking the end of agricultural activities) event held in Peradi near Venoor.
This incident follows a similar episode reported just days ago during a Purushara Puja ceremony, where Islam was allegedly disrespected. A complaint had already been filed with the Venoor police regarding that incident.
Leaders from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had also approached the Venoor police and submitted an official complaint, and demanded immediate action against those who are responsible for creating unrest in the society by wearing Muslim attire and hurting religious sentiments.
The Venoor police have now registered a case following widespread outrage over the alleged video denigrating Islam.
