A joint survey conducted by officers of the Revenue and Forest departments have found that Aniketana Estate, of which retired IAS officer I.M. Vittalamurthy is a partner, has encroached upon forest land at Malasapura in Belur taluk.
The department had served a preliminary notice to the estate owners in December 2014 asking them to vacate the encroached land. The retired officer had sought a joint survey, challenging the notice, said Ganesh S. Bhat, Deputy Conservator of Forests. With the joint survey too indicating that the land has been encroached upon, the owners have now gone before the Chief Conservator of Forests with an appeal, which is to be heard on June 3. “Based on the outcome of the hearing, the department will take action,” Mr. Bhat said.
The owners have allegedly encroached upon 19 acres and 20 guntas of forestland in survey number 194 of Malasavara village, which was declared reserved land in 1940. Mr. Vittalamurthy and other partners had purchased the estate from one Gopala Gowda in 2011. Of the total 23 acres of the estate, 19 acres and 20 guntas are part of forestland, according to the Forest Department.
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“Interestingly, the Revenue Department authorities have shown a sketch of the granted land in forest areas. No Revenue Department officer has authority to grant forestland. The issue will come for hearing before the CCF,” said Ravindra Kumar, ACF (Hassan subdivision).
When contacted, Mr. Vittalamurthy said he was ready to return the land he was not entitled to. “But the Forest Department has to prove the encroachment. I purchased 23 acres of land in 2011 after I retired. The land has been cultivated since 1959. I have not planted even one extra plant in the last four years,” he said.
I purchased 23 acres of land in 2011. I have not planted even one extra plant in the last four years. I’m ready to return land I’m not entitled to, but the Forest Department has to prove encroachment
I.M. Vittalamurthyformer IAS officer