Forest department fails to show guts to free BNP land from encroachers

Encroachers have brazenly erected stone columns in survey number 69 in Shivanahalli which comes under the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), but the forest department has turned a silent spectator.

Highly-placed sources in the forest department have said that the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) has asked not to take action against the encroachers as the area is not part of the forest. However, some senior officials told The Hans India that the land is not only within 200 meters from the boundary of the BNP but is part of the elephant corridor.

While a joint inspection by the deputy commissioner's office, forest and revenue departments is yet to start the encroachers have erected stone pillars surreptitiously demarcating the portion of the land they claim as their own.

Forest Minister Anand Singh took cognisance of the matter and held a meeting with his officials.

On November 19, forest department officials had an altercation with the encroachers, who claimed ownership of the land. However, the encroachers had left after the officials said a joint survey would be conducted by the DC, forest and revenue departments to ascertain the ownership of the land.

Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust, an NGO has written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, police and forest minister apprising them of the situation.

"Anjanappa who is not a resident of this panchayat and nor has he or his family cultivated the land or grown crops in the region as it is a forested area. The said person along with his friends is trying to fence this land. He is not a permanent resident of this region. He and his family have never grown crops in this area. Recently, the Karnataka State Reserve Police Force (KSRPF) planted saplings in this land and the same person along with his friends uprooted all the saplings overnight," the letter to the DC said.

"The problem arises because the Survey No. 69 was never demarcated by the department concerned and is government owned common land (Kharab, Gomala etc), but being within 200 yards of the BNP boundary, decisions on allotment of this land cannot be taken unilaterally," the letter read.