Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said the destruction of forest is inevitable for people to earn their livelihood.
He was reacting to a query on the rise in the forest encroachment cases after he became the revenue minister here on Thursday. He said the felling of trees in forest has become necessary for people to manage their basic amenities. “They can’t live on sky and the circumstances have changed over the past several years. The rise in population has prompted people to cut trees to lead their normal lives,” he defended.
He also stated that the efforts are on to implement Forest Rights Act, aimed at issuing land rights to poor, effectively. Village accountants and revenue inspectors have been directed to dispose of applications without any delay. Besides, they have been asked to conduct progress review meetings twice in a month, he added.
Assistant commissioners, tahsildars and Forest Department officers have been directed to dispose of minimum 1,000 applications submitted under Forest Rights Act within a stipulated time. The department would take all possible steps for the disposal of all applications by December, he stated.
Referring to the regularisation of unauthorised houses under Land Revenue Act, he said the officials should not treat the applications submitted under section 94c and 94cc of the act lightly. They should review the rejected applications without fail, he added.
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