The State government on Tuesday declared Kappatagudda forest region in Gadag district as a conservation reserve.
A notification in this regard was issued following pressure by environmentalists, farmers, and seers of various mutts from northern Karnataka.
The notification
The notification states that the limits and extent of forest areas which are included in Kappatagudda Reserve Forest comprise government of Karnataka-notified reserve forests by reasons of its ecological, faunal, floral and geomorphological importance, and for the purpose of protecting, propagating and developing wildlife there in or its environment.
The State government had earlier withdrawn the notification on conservation reserve citing a technical reason of not conducting a public hearing.
This, however, had come under wide criticism, leading to a campaign for saving the forest range.
‘It’s unfortunate’
In a statement, a Ramgad Minerals & Mining Limited(RMML) spokesperson said, “It is unfortunate that a decision has been passed even when it is quite clear that corrrect procedures were not followed. Public sentiment of those that will actually be impacted by this decision were not heard at all as a result. It is equally unfortunate that despite holding all the valid licences required, our rights have not been protected. We will of course look at the measures that need to be taken going forward.”
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