As per a recent report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Karnataka government has failed to provide clarification on the encroachment of land in Belagavi allotted for Compensatory Afforestation (CA). The central ministry had sought clarification on encroachment in June this year.
Clarification from the state was sought after a site inspection report by the Ministry showed that a portion of land offered by the Karnataka Forest Department for compensatory afforestation for a drinking water supply project in the state is under encroachment.
The department had diverted 575.0749 hectares of forest land in Gokak, Godachinamalki, Konnur, and Mavanura villages in Gokak and Hukkeri Taluks, Belagavi, for the construction of a dam across the Markandeya River and ancillary infrastructure. However, a site inspection report by the regional officer, MoEF&CC, showed that nearly 100 hectares of land proposed for CA by the state government concerning this project are under encroachment.
The encroachment of CA land was highlighted in a news report published in Bangalore Mirror, following which the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sent notices to the central ministry and KFD.
Now, in its recent report submitted to NGT in response to the notice, MoEF&CC has clarified that it received a proposal from Karnataka in February 2023, seeking prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Ministry also received additional information about the proposal, but with certain shortcomings. Thereafter, the Ministry, in February 2024, requested the State Government to provide the requisite information; the reply in this regard is still awaited.
Meantime, MoEF&CC’s regional office submitted a site inspection report, and upon examination of the said report, it was observed that encroachments are there in the areas proposed for CA. As per the report, about 100 hectares were found under encroachment.
“(the Ministry), on June 10, 2024, asked the State Government to provide details (of the encroachment) and take action (on encroachment) and other issues raised by the Regional Office in the spot inspection report. The reply in this regard is awaited from the State Government,” the Ministry has told the NGT in its recent report.
In its letter written to the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka on June 10, 2024, the central environment ministry stated that many encroachments were found that needed to be measured and delineated and excluded to make the CA land free from encumbrances. It also asked Karnataka to provide exact areas free from encumbrances.
Locals opine these incidents reflect failure of forest department officials.
“The encroachment issue was identified by MoEF&CC’s regional office and not by Karnataka Forest Department, as expected. Karnataka’s forest is riddled with encroachment of all kinds. This will only stop when accountability is fixed against erring officials. Due to the department’s lapse, the drinking water project is also on hold, leading to wastage of a lot of resources,” said a local.
