Karnataka: Forest minister Eshwar Khandre tells officials to curb land grab, encroachments

Bengaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday asked officials to secure the forests at the earliest as encroachments and land grabbing were further shrinking wildlife habitat,

The minister held a meeting with forest officials in the Tumakuru division office and enquired about the conflict situations as well as the infrastructure required to take up mitigation measures. After hearing that leopard conflicts have been reported in about 50 villages, the minister approved a proposal to buy 31 new cages to rescue the problem animals.

Khandre, however, stressed the need to save the wildlife habitat. He expressed concern that, though Tumakuru district has relatively less green cover, encroachment and land grabbing still pose a threat.

"Some are using forged documents to grab forest land and there are also cases of illegal grant. Forest officials should take action in such cases without yielding to any pressure. The forest officials should take action in such cases without yielding to any pressure,” he said.