3 months ago
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Farmers protested against ‘large-scale felling of trees’ connected Kavalegudda upland successful Badal Ankalagi successful Belagavi territory of Karnataka, citing harm to the situation and interaction connected their livelihood.
The protestation was led by Sri Basavalinga Avadhoot, seer of the Avadhoot muth, who lives connected the mountain, and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha members. They accused Minister and section MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar of ordering the felling of trees connected implicit 40 acres of onshore for a star park.
“The felling of trees has been going connected for 3-4 weeks now. We complained to section wood officials, but they did not halt it,” the seer told reporters. “Some contractors person utilized world movers to chopped down the trees. There were immoderate sandalwood trees and wildlife, similar peacock, cervid and rabbits. Forest officers, who bash not let farmers to chopped trees successful their backyard, person allowed large companies to destruct the histrion screen connected specified a ample area. Some HESCOM officers told america that Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is investing successful a star parkland successful this region, and has taken the onshore connected lease. We are going connected onslaught to protestation against this injustice,” the seer said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests N. E. Kranti said that helium had ordered a halt to the felling of trees arsenic soon arsenic helium heard of the incidental connected February 1. “We person ordered an enquiry into the incident. Assistant Conservator of Forests, Belagavi has reached the spot, and volition taxable an enquiry report. Any usurpation of the instrumentality volition beryllium strictly dealt with,” the DCF told reporters.
“Initial reports are that it is simply a gairan (public grazing) onshore owned by the Revenue Department. Anyway, the enquiry volition instrumentality into relationship each these factors and verify each claims,” Mr. Kranti said.
Forest Department sources said that determination was nary regularisation against felling of trees successful non-forest onshore successful immoderate drier parts of Belagavi district. “Some areas are exempt from anterior support for felling. Badal Ankalagi is 1 of those villages. However, if the ailment by farmers that sandalwood trees person been chopped oregon that wildlife had been affected is recovered to beryllium true, enactment volition beryllium taken,” a elder serviceman said.
The Minister denied the allegations. “I person nary accusation astir the cutting of trees. I bash not cognize wherefore they are being cut, either. I bash not cognize of immoderate caller strategy sanctioned for the village. The allegations against maine are false, and baseless. I americium the girl of Badal Ankalagi. I volition ne'er bash thing against its interest. I was successful Bengaluru for 2 days. I volition talk to section officers astir the contented successful detail,” she said.
Revenue Department sources said that the territory medication had transferred astir 40 acres successful survey fig 359 to the State Energy Department connected the directions of the authorities of India and the authorities of Karnataka, for mounting up star powerfulness units nether PMKUSUM feeder level solarisation scheme. The orders were issued connected February 12, 2025. HESCOM has begun enactment with the contractors preparing the tract for the project, a elder serviceman said.
A transcript of the bid is with The Hindu. It asks the idiosyncratic bureau to wage a interest of ₹25,000 per acre arsenic right-of-user rate, which volition beryllium revised aft 2 years. The order, however, does not notation the vegetation connected the site. Neither does it licence the idiosyncratic bureau to chopped trees to acceptable up the star powerfulness unit.
To a query, territory in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that helium would inquire Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan to look into the issue.
