Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Sene Convener Avathi Girish said that they have already rejected the sum of Rs 1.4 crore provided by the Government to evict the people from the area.
He said that there are 7 villages in Masagali reserve forest limits spaning over 5,614 acre. There are 196 families living here. “Government had hidden the fact about the people living in this area in 1980 when Forest Act was ammended. The people living in the areas concerned has not only grown crops but had grown many trees as well. There are proofs to establish the fact that these people have been living on this land before 1980,” he said and added that all the details will be given to Forest and Revenue department. He said that government must safeguard the interest of the people of the region.
Beranagodu Mahesh, Prakash Indavar, I N Basavegowda among others were present.
Published 01 January 2010, 17:19 IST