‘Illegal’ land grant by revenue wing annoys forest dept

Nischith N | NT

The alleged conversion of 445 acres of forest land into revenue land by the revenue department in 2014, is proving to be a headache for forest officials who are finding it difficult to retrieve land which has been encroached by private owners.

Even a villa has come up on 5 acres of forest at Gulakmale village in Bengaluru South taluk allegedly without permission of the forest department. Forest officials say the villa adjoins Bhoothanhalli minor forest in Anekal and Bannerghatta National Park and is a vital junction for movement of elephants.

The said land has reportedly been granted to private persons after the conversion with a senior forest officer claiming the department had raised the issue with the revenue department in 2018 and had also sent repeated reminders but no action has been taken. “The revenue department is granting forest land to private people without issuing any notice to the forest department. The place where the villa was built is a significant part of the forest where elephants have been seen. Cases of encroachment have been booked but have not been taken to their conclusion”, says a forest official.

A letter issued by the Forest department says, “ 445 Acres of C & D class land in Survey number 35 & 36 of Gulakmale village, Uttarahalli Hobli, Bengaluru South Taluk was transferred to Karnataka Forest Department for afforestation purpose, way back in 1994. .... Over the years, these C & D lands have transformed into natural forests because of the efforts of the Forest Department. The said lands are contiguous to Bannerghatta National park and form an important corridor for elephants for a stopover during their migrations from Bannerghatta to Savandurga forests and vice versa”.

Forest officials confirmed that during meetings, it was reiterated that because of wrongful entries in RTC, forest land was lost. It is also pointed out that 2,000 to 3,000 individuals had in 2018 tried to grab land at Gulakmale village forcefully.

Speaking to News Trail, Former Chief Wildlife Warden (Karnataka), BJ Hosmath said “This is nothing but a tragedy. As I learnt, this case was discussed at the Additional Chief Secretary level. The Revenue Department refused to undo this and issued a circular that no more such cases will be allowed to happen meaning the revenue department will ask for the opinion of the Forest Department before granting these lands.”

Though the forest department requested the Joint Director of Land Records to demarcate the boundaries of Survey number 35 and 36 of Gulakmale village, there has been no progress.