Virajpet MLA and former Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah averred that the Deemed Forests declaration will not be implemented in Kodagu under any circumstances. Bopaiah told Express on Sunday that the subject was raised in the recent Budget session by Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan.
The concept was mooted in 2002, and two expert committees were formed on the issue. But the previous BJP government had halted the implementation of the report for five years.
He added that for the Deemed Forest declaration to be implemented, matters like consent of the people and stock-holders, compensation, survey reports and other preliminary works need to be addressed.