No illegal mining on forest land, Karnataka environment minister warns

In the meeting, Khandre drew attention to the pollution of water bodies owing to the entry of untreated wastewater from factories. “There are several factories that are polluting the air and water. The wastewater from factories is directly entering the water bodies without treatment. Action should be taken against such factories,” he said.

The minister added that timber stored in the forest department’s warehouse should be auctioned in a transparent manner.

“The forest cover in the state will be increased. It will be achieved through afforestation. We have set a target of planting five crore saplings this year. Conservation of wildlife is the responsibility of the forest department. Measures such as installation of rail barricades and solar fencing are being taken to avoid man-elephant conflict,” he said in the meeting.

Khandre also said several villages and large habitations can be found on stretches currently designated as forest land in the RTC (Records of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) even though they have lost the characteristics of the forest.

Successive governments in Karnataka have been trying to de-reserve forest lands on which human habitations exist even before the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. People living on such lands do not have the right to mortgage or sell.

In 2021, the Karnataka High Court ruled that forest land cannot be de-reserved without the prior permission of the Union government.

In this regard, the minister said a joint survey will be conducted by the revenue and forest departments. “A report will be prepared thereafter, and submitted to the Centre,” Khandre said.