Forest land in Kadugodi was reclaimed legally: Khandre

Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Eshwar B Khandre on Tuesday informed the Legislative Council that the Forest Department had followed the law and complied with all relevant court orders in the recovery of 120 acres of encroached forest land in Kadugodi in Bengaluru.

Pointing out that an area, once designated ‘forest land’ stayed thus forever, Khandre added, “No buildings or houses were demolished. Encroachments were cleared, boundaries demarcated, a temporary fence was erected, and native species of trees planted in the recovered land.”

The minister presented these facts to the House in response to a question raised by Leader of Opposition in the Council Chalavadi T Narayanaswamy. Furnishing documents, some of which dated back more than a century, Chalavadi said that the 711-acre parcel of land had been notified in the state gazette in 1901, and had subsequently been handed over to the Revenue Department in 1950.

“Of this, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board acquired 153 acres after compensating farmers, while 223 acres were parted with for a railway project. Portions of this land have also been used by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and even for the development of real estate projects. Thousands of people dwell in homes allotted through agricultural co-operatives and housing societies. But the Forest Department, citing rules that came into being only in 2016, has recovered 120 acres owned by poor farmers in Kadugodi,” said Chalavadi, daring Khandre to reclaim all the forest land in the area.

He told Chalavadi that the government agencies allotted forest land would be provided with sites elsewhere. Admitting that the Forest Department had failed to take cognisance of the transfer of land to the KIADB in 1985, Khandre said that the matter was now pending before the court. “As far as land for the Metro project is concerned, 45 acres have been given on lease for 30 years,” he said. Responding to calls for a House Committee, Khandre said that legal opinion would be sought once the members submitted all the relevant documents.