Forest Dept.’s move to clear ‘encroachment’ angers growers

The Forest Department’s recent operation to clear encroachment of forestland at Heggudlu village in Mudigere taluk has upset the growers’ community. While the forest officers defend their action, the planters argue that the government should compensate for the loss.

The officers, in an early morning operation on December 17, cleared coffee and pepper crop in about 15 acres belonging to B.S. Narayana Gowda. There has been a long legal battle between Mr. Gowda and the Forest Department over the land. The department has argued that the land in possession of Mr. Gowda belonged to Masagali Reserve Forest.

Following the Supreme Court order to clear the encroachment of reserve forest, according to the forest officers, a team reached the spot and cleared the encroachments and marked its boundaries.

Mr. Gowda told

The Hindu: “I have told the officers repeatedly that I’m ready to give up the land if they prove it belongs to the reserve forest area. They should not have come to take possession of the land in the dark hours and cut off the plants,” he said. He alleged that the officials disturbed even the undisputed land, registered in his mother’s name.

Under the banner of Karnataka Growers’ Federation, the planters staged a protest in Mudigere and demanded a survey to demarcate forestland and revenue land and provide compensation for the loss suffered by Mr. Gowda. They have estimated the loss to the tune of ₹30 lakh. MLA B.B. Ningaiah, MLC Motamma and others have expressed support to their protest.

Deputy Commissioner M.K. Srirangaiah defended the department’s action stating that the land was part of the reserve forest as per records. Takat Singh Ranawat said that as per the court order, the encroachment was cleared. “We had served notices twice earlier and asked the farmer to harvest the yield. We had no option but to clear the encroachment as per court order,” he said.