Activist flags rampant encroachment, seeks freeze on Karnataka's forest plans

Time of India

3 days ago

Bengaluru: The issue of forest encroachment across Karnataka is snowballing into a major controversy, now drawing the Centre's attention and threatening to derail the state forest department's working plans.
Even as the Union govt continues to release crores of rupees under centrally sponsored schemes to support conservation efforts and clears forest diversion proposals, forest land in Karnataka is vanishing at an alarming pace.
In a formal complaint addressed to the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) recently, Dharwad-based conservationist Raghavendra urged the Centre not to approve the draft working plans submitted by various forest divisions of Karnataka until all illegal encroachments are cleared and officials responsible are held accountable.
Citing several Supreme Court orders and MoEF&CC guidelines, Raghavendra reminded the Centre of a key ministry directive issued on May 3, 2002, which made the approval of forest working plans and diversion proposals contingent on the eviction of encroachments. That directive was based on an apex court ruling on Nov 23, 2001, which sought strict enforcement of forest protection measures across all states.
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In his complaint, a copy of which is with TOI, Raghavendra pointed out that 1,385 new cases of forest encroachment were reported across Karnataka in 2023-24 alone.
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These figures, mentioned in the forest department's annual report, highlight that the issue remains rampant in forest circles such as Bengaluru, Belagavi, Hassan and Shivamogga. The trend, he noted, has continued unabated for the past 7-8 years. In 2022-23, as many as 992 fresh encroachment cases were recorded from similar regions.
Blaming the forest department's inaction, Raghavendra stated, "Despite orders from Supreme Court and directions from both the Union and state govts, forest encroachments aren't being cleared in a time-bound manner — barring a few recent cases...
Chief conservators of forests (CCFs) and conservators of forests (CFs) have failed to convene quarterly meetings to monitor encroachments or assist field staff in eviction efforts.
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Coincidentally, in June 2025, the principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) had issued a circular to all forest circles, instructing deputy conservators of forests, CFs, and CCFs to clear at least 10,000 acres of encroached forest land in the 2025-26 fiscal.
Forest minister Eshwar Khandre told TOI he has been maintaining zero tolerance towards forest encroachments. "There are no fresh cases; we've been cracking down on any incident of encroachment involving more than three acres and reclaiming those lands. Only in a few cases have there been delays due to legal hurdles, which we are working to resolve at the earliest," he explained.