Mysuru: Forest Minister Umesh Katti stated that the idea of acquiring agricultural land near the forest area, claiming that farmers could not process them because of routine attacks by wild animals, in the assembly recently.
The statement of angry farmers, who demanded that the government take steps to prevent wild animals from deviating to agricultural land, instead of obtaining land.
The Minister of Forest made a statement after Gundlupet BJP MLA C S Niranjan Kumar raised this issue in the Assembly, stating that farmers who own land are close to tiger reserves and other forest areas, face problems from wild animals.
Farmers cannot cultivate due to regular raids by animals and face problems in selling their land, he said.
“Farmers want the Ministry of Forestry to buy their land, and provide compensation, so they can buy land elsewhere,” he said during the assembly session.
Reacting to this problem, the Minister of Katti said that he would discuss it with deputy commissioners and forest officials, and made a decision to obtain land from farmers, who were on the edge of the forest.
However, the Minister’s statement did not go down well with farmers.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRR) Gundlupet Unit President Mahadevappa told TII that there was a conspiracy by the government to acknowledge agricultural land near the forest.
“Why is the government interested in obtaining agricultural land near the forest? Why does the government not take the initiative to take action against illegal resorts and homestays that have approached the forest, and destroy them? Wild animals entering villages because these animals,” he said.
He demanded that the government take steps to prevent wild animals from deviating to the farm, instead of obtaining agricultural land.
The leader of the BN Shashikumar farmer from HD Kote, the taluk attached to bandage reserves and Nagarahole Tiger, told TOI that there was no logic in the department to buy agricultural land.
“If the department wants to help farmers, they must add barricades on the forest borders, and ensure the availability of food and water for wild animals in the forest.
Wild animals will not come out of the forest,” he said.
Karnataka Kuruburu Shanthakumar’s sugar cane grower association also felt that obtaining agricultural land near the forest was illegal.
“Instead of acquiring land after providing a small compensation, the department must clean the resort that disturbs wild animals.
It must stop building a guest house in the forest, and developing a pond and growing grass and fruit tree pads that provide enough food for animals .
The government must stop making people who live near the forest peacefully for centuries, “he said.
The founder of the Wildlife Conservation Foundation and former Wardlife Honor Mysuru Warden Rajkumar Devaraje Urs said farmers must have land to get their livelihoods.
“Compensation provided by the Department to acquire agricultural land is not enough for farmers to buy alternative land away from the forest.
If farmers cannot grow plants for years, and if they are offered a commercial level for their land from the Ministry of Forestry, farmers can sell Their land and buy alternative land to get livelihoods, “he said.
The idea of the Minister of Forest Karnataka to acquire agricultural land on the outskirts of the forest that was opposed by many people
