Karnataka Minister Orders Officials To Reclaim 444-Acre Forest Land From Indian Air Force

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday directed officials to reclaim 444.12 acres of forest land currently held by the Indian Air Force in the Peenya plantation and Jarakabande reserved forest area of Bengaluru according to the rules.

Of the 570 acres allotted to the Indian Air Force in 1987, the government had issued an order in 2017, cancelling the sanction of 452 acres, which was notified as forest, he said.

"However, the Indian Air Force had started construction work illegally on March 1 without obtaining FC (Forest Clearance) permission," the Minister said, in a statement.

According to the government order of 2017, mutation has been completed, and this land is now officially registered as reserved forest in the title deed.

The Forest department has brought this issue to the notice of Air Force officials and has also put up a board marking it as a reserved forest. A letter has also been written to the Ministry of Defence seeking clearance of this forest land, he said.

"Despite having complete information, the Air Force was carrying out construction work illegally and beyond the rules, and the work has now been stopped, the officials told the Minister."

Currently, out of the 444 acres of land, the Indian Air Force is constructing a shooting range and conducting training on about 15 acres. The Air Force has built an office, etc, on a small piece of land. The rest of the land is in forest form and is rich in trees and plants, the officials explained to the minister, it stated.

"Khandre suggested that legal action be taken immediately to take possession of the forest land and to apply as per the rules on the Parivesh portal regarding the land being used by the Air Force and write a letter to the Air Force to obtain FC," the statement added.