From: Bittu SahgalTo: Natural History of South Asia - General discussion and research Subject: Typical situation in India on World Environment Day! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-To: il-environment@unv.ernet.in, Natural History India X-Authentication-Warning: giasbm01.vsnl.net.in: PPP29-117.lvsb.vsnl.net.in [202.54.29.117] didn't use HELO protocol X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; U) X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN Status: RO This is a Deccan Herald Report Encroachment of reserve forests: 24 charge sheets filed CHIKMAGALUR, June 5 (DHNS) Forest officials have filed charge sheets in connection with 24 more cases of encroachment of reserve forests even as the government ordered that no action be taken against planters accused of encroaching until a joint survey is held and a comprehensive report submitted. Meanwhile, high level sources in the forest department confirmed that the fencing around the estate of state Janata Dal President B L Shankar has been trimmed. Mr Shankar and his family had been accused of encroaching into the Tatkola reserve forest area. Survey work has reportedly revealed that the fencing in the Tatkola forests had been removed and had been shifted to the original estate area. This new development has given a curious turn to the whole issue. It may be recalled that forest officials had filed a case against Mr Shankar, his father-in-law Kenche Gowda and brother B L Divakar, on charges of encroaching 32 acres of Tatkola reserve forest land. The removal of fencing, which is also a punishable offence, has now resulted in forest officials filing another complaint against the family. Initial survey shows that as much as 25 acres of land have been un-fenced and forest officials feel that this might rise to 50 acres also. Cases have been registered against a few influentail persons, which include Mr Rudraiah, the nephew of Animal Husbandry Minister B B Ningaiah. Mr Rudraiah is said to have encroached 5 acres of forest land. By the end of May, 542 cases of encroachment had been filed. Charge sheets have been filed in connection to 94 cases, where investigations have been completed, in the Mudigere and Chikmagalur courts. Fresh charge sheets have been filed in connection with 24 cases. So far an estimated 4181 acres of forest land has been encroached, of which 3475 acres have been encroached by planters while small farmers have encroached 706 acres. Meanwhile, a joint survey is being conducted by the forest department officials and the ADLR as directed by the deputy commissioner on the basis of the government order issued in the wake of the encroachment dispute. The survey which started on April 13, is still going on. Besides, the Survey of India team is also conducting a survey to redefine the boundaries of the Tatkola reserve forest area. The team, headed by Lieutenant Colonel M V Bhat, has started a theodolite survey to identify the D- Line (the outer boundaries) of the 2,300 acre forest. Meanwhile, the district forest officer has said that the department was clearing encroachments as per the Karnataka Forest Act 64 (A). He said the stay order issued by the government had not reached the department. The department was functioning as per the Supreme Court`s directive and so there was no question of going against the government order, he clarified. APPEAL: Meanwhile, an action committee of planters has decided to appeal to the court against the Supreme Court`s interim order. Committee Convenor I B Shankar, treasurer and legal advisor, Advocate Lakshmana Gowda disclosed this at a press conference here today. The Supreme Court`s decision had spelt doom to hundreds of families. Demarkation of 'C` and 'D` group land and the forest land was confusing. The forest department had given wrong information to the court and the whole plot was hatched by a few officials who wanted to stay put in Chikmagalur, they alleged. They said that though the government had clearly stated that no action be taken unless the revenue and forest departments conduct a joint survey, the forest officer had violated the order. Charge sheets have been filed in connection with 24 cases in just a span of two days. The forest department was giving a political colour to the whole incident, Mr Shankar said. -- Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Magazine, 602, Maker Chambers V, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 Fax: 022-2874380 email: