Addressing a press conference in Kolar on Tuesday he alleged that land belonging to the Forest Department has been changed as ‘gomala land’ at the tahsildhar’s office. Legislator Sampangi’s secretary Ravi has  attempted to chop trees on the forest land.

On May 22 at 10 am Ravi has attempted to fell Nilgiri trees on 24.14 acre land belonging to the Forest Department at Madinayakanahalli, which falls between Kolar and Bethamangala. Ravi and labourers fled the area when several villagers from Badamakanahalli and T Gollahalli protested the felling of trees in the forest area. Moreover, there is a stone that clearly indicates that the land belongs to the Bangarpet forest zone, claimed Bhaktavatsalam.

Quick inspection
Bangarpet  legislator M Narayanswamy on receiving the information visited the spot and inspected the land. He assured that stringent action will be initiated against the offenders.
“A secretary cannot fell trees without the support provided by the legislator Sampangi. It is highly condemnable that legislators who are expected to protect the State resources are themselves trying to encroach the forest land,” added former KGF legislator M Bhaktavatsalam.

Protest on May 27
A protest will be staged under the aegis of the JD(S) in front of the tahsildhar’s office on May 27, demanding action against the offenders for changing the forest land into gomala land in the records of the Forest Department. Also, the Forest Department should regain 24.14 acres of the forest land and distribute the remaining land to poor farmers in the surrounding villages, elaborated Bhaktavatsalam.