Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre has refuted allegations made by Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy concerning forest land encroachment by the Forest Department on HMT land in Bengaluru.
Khandre stated that it was the central PSU HMT, not the Forest Department, that had illegally encroached on non-diversified forest land and sold it to real estate companies.
Addressing the media, he said, “Now that orders have been issued for the eviction of forest land, there is no scope for any real estate activity here. So Kumaraswamy’s allegations don’t make any sense.”
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s claim that the Forest Department encroached on HMT land to facilitate real estate development, Khandre clarified, “The encroachment of non-diversified forest land has been done by HMT, not the Forest Department. Once land is cleared under Section 64A of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, how can real estate be done there?”
He further revealed that some officials had previously filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking de-notification of forest land under HMT’s possession without approval from the Chief Secretary-led committee, the Forest Minister, or Cabinet. These officials were suspended and issued show-cause notices. The state government has since secured Cabinet approval to withdraw the intervention application and approached the court accordingly.
“After the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 came into force, any forest land that has not been diverted will continue to remain forest. The Supreme Court has also ruled this. So this land will remain forest,” Khandre asserted.
Kumaraswamy had claimed there is no forest on HMT land, only buildings. Khandre said he personally visited the area with officials and was welcomed by HMT staff with a bouquet. “If they welcomed me with flowers, how can it be called trespass?” he asked.
He added that 280 acres of the land under HMT still consists of forest-like plantations, with films and serials being shot in the abandoned buildings nearby.
“HMT is illegally using forest land for commercial purposes. It has sold 165 acres for just Rs 300 crore. Kumaraswamy should visit the spot and verify this,” he challenged.
Defining the HMT forest land as the “property of 7 crore Kannadigas,” Khandre described it as a vital green lung for Bengaluru.
“Our goal was to build a large biodiversity park on 444 acres, bigger than Lalbagh and Cubbon Park combined. This was announced publicly. There is no point in Kumaraswamy alleging real estate deals,” he said.
Khandre cited the Sharavathi project oustees who are yet to receive land rights because the land was granted as forest land in the 1950s without diversion. Even after de-notification during Siddaramaiah’s tenure, the court ruled it was not permissible post-1980.
“Given this situation, HMT selling land to real estate firms and others itself is illegal,” he concluded.
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