To preserve Bengaluru’s green spaces, forest department recovers 120-acre city property worth ₹4,000 crore

The forest department team cleared encroachments on the Kadugodi plantation forest land with the help of security provided by the Bengaluru police and reclaimed the land by marking the boundaries and planting saplings of local varieties, the statement added.

“The market value of the forest land acquired today is estimated to be over ₹4,000 crore,” the forest department said, adding that the operation was conducted on Khandre’s directions that “breathing spaces should be protected and forest land encroachment should be cleared as per the rules”.

According to the forest department, a total of 248 acres of forest encroachments have been cleared in Bengaluru in the last two years, with a market value of over ₹8,000 crore.

“Bengaluru has developed in all four directions. In this rapid development, many settlements have come up, and lakhs of plants and trees have been cut down. If the green cover deteriorates, the next generation will have to face severe difficulties. The forest department is working to protect the breathing spaces,” Khandre said.

Earlier this week, Khandre launched the second phase of development work of B Channasandra Lake in Kasturinagar, where part of the lake was restored by residents after it was cleared of encroachment by the forest authorities. He has suggested that steps be taken to convert the lakes belonging to the forest department into forest land in the revenue department records.

“The role of locals in the development of Kasturi Nagar B Channasandra Lake is important. The public must join hands with the government to save government property. As soon as the Kasturi Nagar Welfare Development Association complained in February, we gave written instructions to clear the encroached forest land,” the minister said.

Khandre also said that out of 19.17 acres of land in Survey No 64 of Banaswadi village, KR Puram Hobli, North Bengaluru, 13.27 acres belong to the forest department, but nearly seven acres are being used for other purposes, and action is being taken. “The existing 6 acres 26 guntas of land has been cleared of silt, a compound has been laid, and saplings have been planted to protect it,” he added.