JOIN USVillagers to protest Kasturirangan report
All the residents of 12 villages, under three Gram Panchayats in the taluk, on the periphery of the forests will launch a hunger strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, in Mysuru, on February 24, if the authorities concerned do not stall implementation of the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee report, said Taluk Panchayat Member Ganapathi.
Addressing a media conference, here, on Friday, he said, the Forest department officials have already started a survey of lands in the villages on the border of the Nagarahole forests. “Farmers depending on 1,500 acres of land in these 12 villages will be affected badly if the recommendations are implemented. Even 35 years ago, the Forest department officials had seized valuable trees grown on the farmlands, snatching the rights of the farmers. Now, they are claiming that the land itself belongs to the department. The villagers will not only lose their lands, but also schools, hospitals and other basic infrastructure. Will the government rehabilitate the villagers?” he asked.
Stating that the issue is still in the Supreme Court and the Centre has temporarily stalled the implementation of the recommendations, Ganapathi said, the Forest department should stop the survey of lands, abutting the forests.
He said, Kikkerikatte, Hebbahalla, Bekkeshed, Udavepura, Kalabuchanahalli, Billenahosahalli, Konanahosahalli, Mudaganuru, Bharathavadi, Veeranahosahalli and villages under Karnakuppe and Neralakuppe GPs will be affected.