Joint survey of 1.79 lakh ha of deemed forest begins

Deputy Commissioner Dr Bagadi Gautham said that a joint survey on 1.79 lakh hectares of deemed forest is being carried out by the officials from Revenue, Forest and Survey Departments.

The survey had already commenced from April 22 and will be carried out on 1,443 survey numbers in 32 hoblis and 304 villages in the district.

A total of 42 teams comprising Revenue, Forest and Survey Department officials have been constituted for the purpose.

The survey will be completed in 50 days, said the deputy commissioner to reporters on Wednesday.

The survey is likely to be delayed by 10 days in the areas where it is raining.

The teams will complete the groundwork before the onset of monsoon. The documents will be upgraded later.

The teams have to click a photograph of the survey being conducted in a particular area. A separate WhatsApp group has been created for the purpose and the teams are monitored, he explained.

He said that the survey will benefit the people and will help to overcome the confusion over forest and revenue land.

The district administration will get clarity on the government land. It will also help the officials to sanction land for the construction of government hospitals, schools, anganwadi and distribution of sites among the poor, he added.

The deputy commissioner said that measures have been taken to tackle the water crisis in the district. Three private borewells in Kadur, two in Chikkamagaluru have been taken on rent to supply water to the residents.

He said the officials have been directed to clear the bills of water tankers once in 15 days. The tahsildar, Gram Panchayat PDO, AEE of rural water supply, officials from Horticulture, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments should convene a meeting on every Monday at 10 am on the same.

He added that 88 water tankers with 256 trips supply water to 72 villages daily in the district. In Kadur taluk, water is supplied through tankers to 41 villages while in Chikkamagaluru taluk, water is supplied to 31 villages. All the water tankers are fitted with GPS.

The deputy commissioner said that he had inspected the work on Karagada lift irrigation project and the contractor has been directed to complete the work by May end.