Karnataka govt assures SC it will free up forest land by Dec 31

 The Karnataka government has assured the Supreme Court that it would free up to 452 acres and 8 guntas of land in Maskali reserve forest area by removing over 200 families before December 31, 2017.

As 211 families would be rendered destitute after eviction, the state government said it has identified land for their rehabilitation. “A layout which includes individual housing sites as well as sites for common amenities will be formed and necessary steps will be taken to rehabilitate all 211 families,” an affidavit filed by Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia stated.

The entire process will be carried out within one year, it said.

The affidavit was filed in response to the apex court's direction in reference to a 1995 writ petition filed by T N Godavarman Thirumulpad, a member of the princely Nilambur Kovilakam family in the Malabar region of Kerala. The petitioner passed away on June 1, last year at the age of 86.

The court earlier issued direction to the state to file a status report on removal of encroachment from reserved forest of Chikkamangaluru district's Thatkola, Sargodu and Maskali reserved forests.

On Friday, after taking up the status report, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta put the matter for further hearing on January 3.

“We expect the Chief Secretary, Karnataka to abide by what has been said in the status report. Necessary photographs should be produced on the next date of hearing to show compliance,” the bench said.

In Sargodu, as 550 acres of land were found as encroached. Of which, 115 encroachments from 402 acres of land have been cleared by last month.

The state government also told the court that 33 encroachments were made prior to 1978, so 'patta' for the occupiers can be issued for them only after de-reserving the forest land. The denotification of the reserved forests and consequent sanction of 'patta' would be completed before December 31, it said.

Seven families, belonging to Scheduled Tribes would be considered for rehabilitation, if they opt for the package voluntarily. This would be done within one year of receiving their consent.