RFOs to be held responsible for post-2015 land grabs: Karnataka minister Eshwar Khandre

Bengaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Sunday warned that range forest officers (RFOs) would be responsible for post-2015 encroachments in their jurisdictions.

He visited Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru district following a fatal leopard attack on a 5-year-old girl at Navilekal Gudda in Tarikere range.

"Any encroachment that happened after 2015 should be evicted," a statement from the minister said.

In the wake of the row on commercialisation of King Cobra research, Khandre issued an order to train a minimum of 5 personnel in each of the divisions under the range of the snake, to rescue problem individuals. Private agencies should not be involved, he said.