Shivamogga
The Forest Department of Karnataka cleared encroachments on 96 acres of forest at Savanthanahalli, near Hassan, on August 1.
The land, located in survey number 99 of Savanthanahalli in Shantigrama hobli, was being cultivated by 68 persons. A team of officials, led by Deputy Conservator of Forests Sourabh Kumar, cleared the encroachment.
The Forest Department stated that officials had set up a plantation in the land in 1984. However, over the years, it had been encroached upon.
Following a petition before the Karnataka Lokayukta, the Lokayukta, in an order in 2017, directed the department to recover the land by clearing the encroachments.
As many as 140 officers of the Forest Department, 160 policemen, and officers of the Revenue Department were involved in the operation.
After the encroachment was cleared, the department planted saplings in the recovered land.
Superintendent of Police Mohammed Sujeetha and other officers took part in the operation to clear encroachments.
