State Government diverted 220 ha of forest land

The State Forest Department has diverted about 220 hectares of forest land, including that belonging to the reserved category, for various non-forestry purposes such as construction of transmission lines, irrigation, railways and roads, during 2011-12 in Karnataka.

 According to official records of the State Forest Department they have sanctioned about 17 proposals that came up before it during 2011-12, including five from the energy, two from public works, one from the irrigation and nine other departments seeking diversion of forest land.

 Among the proposals, the Department of Power and Energy have cornered a lion share of 210.56 ha of reserved forest area for five projects followed by 2.617 ha for roads and bridges works.  With this the Forest Department had diverted about 28,314.81 ha of reserved forest ranges in various districts so far.

 A major tract of reserved forest area of 172.53 ha of land, which was diverted for non-forestry purpose was for the construction of the 400 KV DC line from the second unit of the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd located at Nandikur in Udupi district.

 The department has also approved the diversion of 23.116 ha of forest land for construction of 400 KV DC transmission line in Madikere, Virajpet and Hunsur division of Mysore-Kozhikode in favour of the Power Grid Corporation of India followed by release of another 8.34 ha of the Reserved Forest area in Sandur taluk of Bellary division for laying of 400/220 KV double circuit transmission from BTPS at Kudutini to Hiriyur in favour of KPTCL.

 A portion of the land belonging to forest division (0.8 ha) had also made reserved for a Christian burial ground in Sirsi town in North Kanara district. The other instances of diversion of forest land are included a temporary diversion of 0.717 ha of forest land in Gunda Reserved Forest of Jambunatha Halli in Hospet taluk, 0.96 ha of forest land of Budingad village in Badami taluk.

 During the period the department had also undertaken the compensatory afforestation in both at the forest and non-forest land in over 23,490 ha.