5 months ago
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Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre connected Saturday directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to taxable a elaborate study wrong 7 days connected the issues raised by Praveen Bhargav, trustee of Wildlife First, a non-government organisation, implicit the connection by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) seeking ex-post facto wood clearance for the alleged amerciable submergence of wood onshore successful the Kudremukh region.
The directive follows a study published by The Hindu on December 24, 2025, which highlighted Wildlife First’s entreaty to the Karnataka authorities to cull KIOCL’s exertion for retrospective wood clearance. In his order, Mr. Khandre asked the PCCF to analyse each aspects raised successful the practice and furnish a elaborate study by 7 days.
In his missive to elder wood section officials, Mr. Bhargav expressed daze that the connection was being considered astatine all, arguing that it should person been rejected outright. He cited observations made by the Conservator of Forests (Mangaluru), who reportedly stated that ex-post facto clearance ought not to beryllium granted successful this case.
Mr. Bhargav urged the State authorities to cull KIOCL’s connection and guarantee betterment of ₹139.15 crore arsenic punishment for the alleged violations. He besides demanded that 1,401 hectares of authorities onshore beryllium formally included wrong the boundaries of Kudremukh National Park.
Mr. Bhargav had addressed his missive to Additional Chief Secretary (Forests, Ecology and Environment) Anjum Parvez, PCCF and Head of Forest Force Meenakshi Negi, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden P.C. Ray, and PCCF (Forest Conservation) Mahesh B. Shirur.
