Karnataka govt to form panel to decide on lifting ban on eucalyptus plantation
BENGALURU: The Karnataka government will constitute a high-level committee to decide whether to lift the ban on the Eucalyptus plantation or look for alternative ways to facilitate the revival of the Bhadravati MPM factory. According to an official statement on Thursday, a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting convened on Wednesday regarding the revival of Mysore Paper Mill Ltd (MPM).
The meeting was chaired by Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil at the Vidhansouda office. Forest Minister Ishwara Khandre and Bhadravati MLA Sangamesh also attended it. Ishwara Khandre said the forest department will form an experts committee today and it will be asked to submit a comprehensive report within a month.
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Speaking after the meeting, the Minister explained, "A total of 20,005 hectares of forest land has been given to Bhadravati Paper Factory in 2020 on a lease for 40 years, for growing eucalyptus. However, forest land cannot be granted without the central government's permission. On the other hand, the factory cannot run without getting the required raw material. This catch situation needs to be resolved".
MPM operation requires 10 lakh tonnes of raw material every year and currently only two lakh tonnes are available from the land given to the factory. Eucalyptus plantation is banned in the state. So, this has forced the concerned to explore a new option so that the factory can be revived, he said.
The government is considering allowing eucalyptus plantations in the surrounding districts of Shivamogga as well and the proposed committee will take a call on this, Patil added.
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Baramati plane crash: Probe being conducted on timeline-based approach: Union Minister
Hyderabad (PTI): Asserting that the government has zero tolerance for air safety issues, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday said the investigation into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others would follow a time-bound approach.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Wings India 2026, he said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had arrived at the site, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft had been recovered.
Pawar and four others on board a chartered aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday.
"The Black Box has been recovered, and the investigation is in process. This time, we will follow a strict timeline approach to ensure the report is completed expeditiously," Naidu said.
Responding to a query about the absence of firefighting personnel during the incident, the minister said the airstrip is used primarily by flying training organisations.
He added that all facilities required for a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) were in place, and that the airstrip operates under a Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit (NSOP), not for commercial aviation.
"When we license an NSOP strip to operate as a commercial airport, certain requirements must be met, which we ensure. But this facility has been used by NSOPs, particularly for flying training organisations," he said.
Naidu added that India is considered one of the safest countries in terms of aviation safety protocols.
He said the Maharashtra government had written to the Centre regarding the investigation, and the Civil Aviation Ministry had responded, confirming that the probe was underway.
He also noted that Flight Time Limitations (FTL) are already being implemented.
