Move to convert reserve forest opposed by associations

The villagers in association with various associations including members of Raitha Sangha staged a dharna in protest against the move to convert reserve forest at Hiregadde in Koppa taluk on Tuesday.

The villagers staged a protest in the back drop of a proposal to convert about 300 acre land in survey number 17, 18, 51, 49 and 122 in Hiregadde. The gram panchayat had passed a resolution in this regard.

They said “we have been carrying out farming in the region for the last six decades. There was a conspiracy to declare the region as reserve forest in the past.”

Village head B M Sudev said “bagarhukkum land cultivated by over 90 farmers will be affected if the proposal is approved. The villagers will lose their land once the region is declared as reserve forest.”

Sudheerkumar Murolli said “the villagers should submit objection against the proposal individually. The elected representatives should come to the rescue of the villagers,”
The Janata Dal Secular JD(S) Vice President H T Rajendra said “the method used for declaring reserve forest is unscientific.”

Block Congress President K G Shobhinth said “the officials identify the availability of land for taking up afforestation by sitting inside their chamber. The officials had included about 45 houses, 15 acre farm land in the reserve forest list in Shanuvalli in the past.”

The protest was attended by Naveen, Belagula Chinthan, Kuppalli Sudhakar, Niluguli Nagaraj and others.