Eviction, a bitter reality for 110 families of Basavarajapura

Residents of Basavarajapura near Halebidu in Belur taluk, who have been living and cultivating land since 1957, have been asked by the Forest Department to leave the village, claiming it is forest land.

The department has issued notices of eviction from about 100 acres of land. Village residents, however, are asking how they could be asked to leave when they hold valid documents and have dug wells and availed loans under government schemes.

Ravindra Kumar, ACF of Hassan subdivision, told

The Hindu : “They have got RTC, but it has been issued to them illegally. We have written to the Assistant Commissioner of the Revenue Department to cancel the RTCs. The Revenue Department cannot grant forest land to anyone.”

The notice states that the land is part of Kallalli Reserved Forest area.

He, however, said they would not be evicted immediately, because farmers have raised objections to the notice.

As many as 110 families have been residing in the village. “In the mid-1950s our elders had no land. The then MLA of Belur, Boranna Gowda, asked us to cultivate land at Basavarajapura. As the years passed, we cultivated land and obtained rights over the land. Many of us have taken loans and subsidies under different government schemes for digging borewells, and got houses sanctioned. Where should we go, if all of a sudden, we are served notices?” said Hanumanth Bovi, a resident of the village.

Many of us have taken loans and subsidies under different government schemes. Where should we go, if all of a sudden, we are served notices?

Hanumanth Bovi,resident of the village