Encroachment Issues Stall Afforestation Plan

27 Nov 2024 CW Team

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has flagged the Karnataka government's delay in addressing encroachments on land allocated for Compensatory Afforestation (CA) in Belagavi. Despite repeated requests, the state has not clarified the encroachment issue that surfaced after a June 2024 site inspection.

The inspection revealed that approximately 100 hectares of the land proposed for CA in Gokak and Hukkeri Taluks, related to the Markandeya River dam project, are under illegal encroachment. This CA land is critical for offsetting the diversion of 575 hectares of forest land for the dam and its ancillary infrastructure.

The issue first came to light following a news report and was escalated when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to both the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) and MoEF&CC. In its response, the Ministry stated that it had requested Karnataka to measure, delineate, and exclude encroached areas to ensure CA land remains unencumbered. Despite these directives, Karnataka has yet to reply or take significant action.

Locals and environmental activists have criticized the state forest department for its inaction. According to residents, the MoEF&CC regional office identified the encroachments, exposing the lapses of the Karnataka Forest Department. They argue that without accountability for erring officials, encroachment across Karnataka’s forests will persist.

The failure to resolve this issue has stalled the drinking water supply project, wasting resources and delaying benefits for the community. As the NGT awaits further clarification, the central environment ministry continues to pressure Karnataka to comply with its obligations under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

This situation underscores the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and transparent accountability to prevent encroachments and safeguard forest lands for future projects and ecological balance.

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