
Karnataka to ask Centre, apex court to ensure justice to farmers cultivating forest land
At a meeting with MLAs, forest and revenue officers from Chikkamagaluru district at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru, he said the Centre and the Supreme Court will be urged not to clear human settlements and cultivated lands within the deemed forests. Instead, compensatory land should be given to the forest department, the minister added.
In some cases, provisions under Section 17 have not been implemented even after 70 years of the notification issued under Section 4. This has become a hurdle in dropping such lands in the forest limits after the enforcement of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. Therefore, it has become inevitable to submit the appeal to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Khandre said.

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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Forest encroachment in Karnataka sparks demand to halt working plan approvals
In view of rampant forest encroachment in Hassan, Shivamogga, and other circles in Karnataka, and the failure of the State machinery to clear the evictions, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been urged to withhold approval of draft working plans for all forest divisions in the State. The demand is based on the Centre's own circular issued more than 23 years ago (May 3, 2002), which categorically states that approval of forest working plans and diversion proposals must be linked to the eviction of illegal encroachments. The Centre's directive, based on a Supreme Court order dated November 23, 2001 (W.P. No. 202/95), warned that failure to act would jeopardise not only forest clearances, but also funding under Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Based on the above circular, an enraged activist Raghavendra, has written to the MoEF&CC, dated July 21, 2025, that working plans should not be approved until substantial eviction drives are undertaken, and erring officials face disciplinary action. Mr. Raghavendra has flagged the alarming rise in fresh encroachments over the past two years, and pointed out that Karnataka recorded 1,385 new forest encroachment cases in 2023–24, and 992 cases in 2022–23, with a significant number reported from Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kanara, Hassan, and Shivamogga circles, as per the annual report of the Karnataka Forest Department. He cited the 2002 circular which described forest encroachments — then totalling over 12.5 lakh hectares nationally — as a growing menace, often driven by powerful local lobbies. The Ministry, said Mr. Raghavendra, had mandated the formation of multi-tiered committees at State, circle, and district levels to monitor, report, and assist in evictions. However, he has complained and alleged that these committees are non-functional in Karnataka. Citing the example of Dharwad and Belagavi circles, the complainant alleged that not a single district-level encroachment monitoring meeting was convened from 2020 to 2024, flouting both Central and State directives. In subsequent circulars, the Ministry reiterated that senior officials including Deputy Commissioners, Superintendants of Police, and forest officials would be held personally accountable for any fresh encroachments, and liable for disciplinary action. 'But despite these directives and fresh encroachments being reported, the MoEF&CC continues to approve working plans and diversion proposals in Karnataka,' remarked Mr. Raghavendra. He said that this was a violation not only of Supreme Court orders, but also of the Ministry's own binding circulars. 'While funds are being disbursed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the forests are disappearing at an alarming rate,' he added. The complainant has called for a moratorium on working plan approvals for all forest divisions in Karnataka until a credible eviction drive is carried out and accountability is fixed.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Railways gave 45% subsidy on passenger travel in FY24, says govt
The Indian Railways provisionally spent ₹60,466 crore in subsidy, 45 per cent of the cost of passenger travel, in the financial year 2023-24, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw gave the information in response to the questions raised by several MPs on the recent rail fare hike. Vaishnaw said the Indian Railways provides affordable transportation service to more than 720 crore passengers and its fares are among the lowest in the world, even when compared with neighbouring countries. "The total amount of subsidy given in FY 2023-24 on passenger travel is provisionally estimated at ₹60,466 Crore. This amounts to a 45 per cent subsidy on the cost of passenger travel," Vaishnaw informed the lower house in a written reply. He said the rail fares were "rationalized" with effect from July 1 this year after a gap of more than five years. "The increase in fares is very low, ranging from half paise per km to two paise per km for premium classes," he added. The minister said no fare has been increased in the second class ordinary up to 500 km, beyond that, the hike is just half paisa per passenger per kilometre. A half paisa increase has been effected in fare per passenger per kilometre in sleeper class, ordinary and first-class ordinary, 1 paisa increase per passenger per kilometre in non-AC classes in Mail Express, and 2 paisa increase per passenger per kilometre in reserved AC classes, he said. "To maintain affordability for low and middle income families, the fares for MST (Monthly Season Ticket) and Suburban travel have not been revised," Vaishnaw informed the House, saying the hike was insignificant. "It is estimated that less than half the trips will have a marginal increase in fare. For example, for a low-income traveller in general coach, there is no fare increase for 500 km travel," he said. Vaishnaw said the Railways has, to improve the suburban infrastructure and safety, begun work on network expansion and track upgradation, etc. "Further, increase in frequency of train services, including suburban train services, is an on-going process over Indian railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification and availability of resources, etc," the minister added.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Railways spent 45% in subsidy on passenger travel in 2023-24: Govt
New Delhi: The Indian Railways provisionally spent Rs 60,466 crore in subsidy, 45 per cent of the cost of passenger travel, in the financial year 2023-24, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw gave the information in response to the questions raised by several MPs on the recent rail fare hike. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Data Analytics CXO MCA Public Policy Management Technology PGDM Design Thinking Data Science Cybersecurity others Digital Marketing MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Science Product Management Others Healthcare Leadership Operations Management Finance Degree healthcare Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Vaishnaw said the Indian Railways provides affordable transportation service to more than 720 crore passengers and its fares are among the lowest in the world, even when compared with neighbouring countries. "The total amount of subsidy given in FY 2023-24 on passenger travel is provisionally estimated at Rs. 60,466 Crore. This amounts to a 45% subsidy on the cost of passenger travel," Vaishnaw informed the lower house in a written reply. He said the rail fares were "rationalized" with effect from July 1 this year after a gap of more than five years. Live Events "The increase in fares is very low, ranging from half paise per km to two paise per km for premium classes," he added. The minister said no fare has been increased in the second class ordinary up to 500 km, beyond that, the hike is just half paisa per passenger per kilometre. A half paisa increase has been effected in fare per passenger per kilometre in sleeper class, ordinary and first-class ordinary, 1 paisa increase per passenger per kilometre in non-AC classes in Mail Express, and 2 paisa increase per passenger per kilometre in reserved AC classes, he said. "To maintain affordability for low and middle income families, the fares for MST (Monthly Season Ticket) and Suburban travel have not been revised," Vaishnaw informed the House, saying the hike was insignificant. "It is estimated that less than half the trips will have a marginal increase in fare. For example, for a low-income traveller in general coach, there is no fare increase for 500 km travel," he said. Vaishnaw said the Railways has, to improve the suburban infrastructure and safety, begun work on network expansion and track upgradation, etc. "Further, increase in frequency of train services, including suburban train services, is an on-going process over Indian railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification and availability of resources, etc," the minister added.