JOIN USFIR registered against engg firm for illegal survey
The Forest Department has registered an FIR against Preethi Cad Consulting Engineers Private Ltd, for carrying out a GPS-based survey without permission of the Department.
The private agency had surveyed the region identified for the construction of road on the Bhairapura-Shishila route in the Baluru reserved forest.
The staff of the above mentioned private firm had illegally infiltrated into the reserve forest, conducted a GPS-based survey and marked the rocks inside the forest with colour, said a complaint filed on the basis of the observations made by the forest guards. The Conservator of Forests, Prahlad, has registered the complaint.
The state government has been consistently trying to construct a road on the Bhairapura-Shishila route and every possible ‘hurdle’ is being cleared by the government. M S Manik, the district Deputy Conservator of Forests who had submitted a report against the construction of the road, has been transferred to Shivamogga circle. Manik is succeeded by an official who is an associate of an influential minister, so that the work on the road may continue, say both environmentalists and sources in the Forest Department.
Manik, in his report submitted in September, had mentioned that the construction of the road on the Bhairapura-Shishila route is not recommended as the region receives 7,500 mm to 9,000 mm annual rainfall and comprises evergreen forests, shola forests and also the deemed forest. The construction of roads will cause an obstacle to elephant and tiger corridors, said the report.
Earlier, the government had directed M S Manik through a final notice served on August 19 that a clear-cut opinion may be given after carrying out a survey of the place by spot inspections.
The proposed road has been vehemently opposed by environmentalists. There has also been speculation over some lobbies batting for the road construction.