21 acre of deemed forest land granted for quarrying in Karnataka; vigilance cell urged to take action

In this regard, DCF, Forest Mobile Squad, Hassan division, N Ravindrakumar has written to Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Vigilance) Vijay Ranjan Singh recommending legal action against Harish. The letter also stated that the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Forest Conservation Act, 1980, should be invoked against the DCF.

“While two officials who had served as DCFs in Hassan had not cleared the proposal for quarrying, DCF Harish has granted NOC,” Ravindrakumar said in the letter.

Harish also told the Mines and Geology department that the land allotted for quarrying does not fall within the forest area, documents revealed.

In 2022, the Karnataka government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, fixing the extent of the deemed forest land at 3.3 lakh hectare. About 50.30 hectare of Dadighatta village is also part of the deemed forest land and the state government, in the same year, had directed the revenue department to mutate deemed forest lands in favour of the forest department.

“The lands that have been assigned as the deemed forest lands shall not be granted for any purpose,” the government order said.

Notably, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on May 15 issued a directive to states and Union Territories to take cognizance of offences committed under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

“Based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and approval of the same by the competent authority of the MoEF&CC, New Delhi, the Central Government hereby authorizes officers of the rank of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) and above of the State Government or Union territory Administration concerned, having jurisdiction over the forest land in respect of which any offense under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is committed or violation of the provisions of the said Act has been made, to file complaints against such person, authority/organization, prima-facie found guilty of offence under the Act or the violation of the rules made thereunder, in the court having jurisdiction in the matter,” the MoEF&CC said.