K'taka ecology Min. orders stern action against illegal establishments in Western Ghat region
Bengaluru: Amid rising public calls for protecting ecologically sensitive zones in the Shayadri Ranges, and frequent landslides, Karnataka Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday issued orders taking stringent actions against illegal establishments including homestays and resorts in the Western Ghat regions of the state within a month.
The Minister directed stern measures against illegal layouts, plantations, homestays, and resorts encroaching on forest areas in Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, and Hassan. He suggested immediate action to clear all forest encroachments since 2015.
The recent landslide near the Shiroor in Ankola district claimed 11 lives, while a landslide in Wayanad, Kerala, resulted in 250 deaths and over 200 missing persons. "Experts attribute these disasters to unscientific deforestation and construction, the government is taking this issue seriously," read the order.
Heavy vehicular traffic and weekend travel and trekking in ranges and Ghat areas also pose dangers, according to the minister.
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Security forces destroy 23 illegal bunkers, seize 18 IEDs in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Security forces have destroyed 23 bunkers illegally constructed in Manipur's Ukhrul and seized 18 IEDs in Tengnoupal district in separate operations, a police statement said on Saturday.
The bunkers were destroyed on Thursday in the hill villages of Mongkot Chepu, Shongphel, Mullam, Sirarakhong and Ringue in Litan police station area, it said.
A 12-bore pump action gun, 17 cartridges of different calibres and 111 empty cases of fired bullets were also seized.
At least seven people have been shot dead in different firing incidents and more than 30 houses have been torched since violence broke out between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in Ukhrul district in February this year.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation on Wednesday, security forces seized a cache of arms and explosives in T Bongmol village in Moreh police station area in Tengnoupal district.
Two single-barrel rifles, four 9mm pistols with magazines and 18 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were seized. The explosives were destroyed on the spot, it added.
