The Karnataka government has adopted a firm stance on evicting encroachments from forest land across the state, unveiling a robust strategy aimed at tackling land-grabbing activities. The Forest Department has now made Deputy Conservators of Forests (DCFs) at the district level and Chief Conservators of Forests (CCFs) at the circle level directly responsible for clearing encroachments, with annual targets to be reviewed monthly by the Chief Secretary.
Targets Linked to Climate Change Goals
The intensified crackdown comes after the approval of the Karnataka State Action Plan on Climate Change in February 2024, which considers the reclamation of encroached forest land as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI). Acting on this framework, Ms. Meenakshi Negi (1989-batch IFS officer), the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and head of the forest force, has issued firm instructions to all DCFs and CCFs to prioritise encroachment eviction drives.
The PCCF has set an annual target of reclaiming at least 10,000 acres of encroached forest land statewide. According to government data, over 2.15 lakh acres of forest land have been encroached upon, with the highest concentration in Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Bengaluru districts—also assigned the largest clearance targets.
Accountability Yet to Be Fixed on Non-Performing Officers
While conservationists have welcomed the government’s renewed push, they have criticised the Forest Department for not ensuring accountability for non-performance. A local highlighted a case in the Kakati range, where seven encroachments flagged between November 2023 and January 2024 went unaddressed for over a year. Notices were issued only after the responsible officers were transferred—and even then, no punitive action was taken. Shockingly, some of the negligent officers were reportedly promoted.
Forest Minister Assures Monitoring and Future Accountability Measures
Responding to the criticism, Forest Minister Mr. Eshwar Khandre stated that he is personally monitoring eviction efforts. He acknowledged systemic lapses, admitting that many officials fail to follow up after eviction, particularly in notifying reclaimed lands as reserve forests under Section 4 of the Karnataka Forest Act.
“If officials complete these Section 4 formalities, we can reclaim nearly one lakh hectares of forest land,” said Mr. Khandre. He added that discussions are underway to explore mechanisms for holding officers accountable for failing to meet eviction targets.
The minister’s statement signals a growing realisation that enforcement without accountability may only yield partial success in Karnataka’s forest conservation mission.
