Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he signed a Cabinet decision on Wednesday to release 6.5 lakh acres of land from deemed forest tag and to submit an affidavit in this regard to the Supreme Court to end years of uncertainty of lakhs of farmers.
In an almost launch of the election campaign during the inauguration of the Adalita Soudha at Moodbidri near here, Mr. Bommai said he did not have time to respond to allegations being levelled by the Opposition parties as 24 hours were not enough for him for development works. “Our predecessors have left several issues unresolved, including the deemed forest issue. Now I have signed the decision,” Mr. Bommai said.
Generations have been living and engaged in cultivation on land identified as deemed forest and they were subject to harassment by the Forest Department. Similar issues prevailed in Kodagu and other parts of the State. The Government was committed to resolving all the issues, he said.
Listing out a series of Budget announcements, including Raitha Vidyanidhi and grants to fishers, Mr. Bommai reiterated the concept of development and said he would go before people with the development mantra. “I have come to Moodbidri, the Jain Kashi and a centre of education, seeking blessings of people.
His Government, Mr. Bommai claimed, was providing all the necessary infrastructure, including drinking water, good roads, healthcare benefits, and education in Moodbidri. Mr. Bommai said the Prime Minister on Wednesday complimented Karnataka for effective COVID-19 management and adequate health infrastructure creation.
