KIADB gobbles up forest land

KIADB gobbles up forest land
Amit S Upadhye | TNN

Bangalore: When the administration is pinning down encroachers of government land, here is a case where a government agency itself has bent rules to gobble up prime property belonging to forest department.
The saga of 711 acres of forest land in Kaadugodi dates back to 1896 when this plot in Kaadugodi village was declared government plantation by the erstwhile Mysore government. But all that has now remained with the forest department now is 95 acres!
The culprit is Karnataka Industrial Area development Board (KIADB) which has allotted the forest land at Whitefiled to individuals, IT majors, institutions, industries and even another government agency, the South Western Railway, during the early 90s.
A recent survey by the forest department has brought to light the encroachment. As a result, on September 29, the forest department registered cases of land encroachment against seven KIADB officers for misleading the buyers and the government in the land deal.
KIADB came into the picture when it acquired 589 acres in 1981-85 and allotted 415 acres to 122 government, private institutions and individuals.
What was the forest department doing all these years? “The department did not bother to look into the matter. In the early 90s about 200 acres was allotted to the railways. The department officials thought it was a legal allotment since a central government agency was involved. The encroachment came to light after the department did a resurvey following the Union government order in 1995,’’ explained Bangalore urban deputy conservator of forests A M Annaiah.
What next? Will the department get back the land worth Rs 7,000 crore?
“No one is above the law. If irregularities have occurred before, we’re not responsible. Discussions are on at the government level and we’re positive we will get back the land,’’ he said.
STORY SO FAR
711 acres declared government plantation in May 29, 1896
Area notified as state forest under Mysore Forest Regulations in 1901
Leased to the British army to set up a military camp during World War II for Rs 4 per acre. Given to govt in 1947
Later, about 500 acres utilised for cultivation during green revolution by the farmers who were a part of Community Agriculture Cooperative Society
Land declared Reserve Forest in ’63
In 1981-85, KIADB acquired 589 acres and started allotments
Cases booked
Forest department has booked cases against seven KIADB officers, including the chief executive officer, for diverting forest land to non-forest use