BENGALURU: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre informed the Assembly that his department will take back the 452 acres and four-and-a-half guntas of forest land allotted to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Jarakabande kaval in Bengaluru North taluk.
Replying to a debate on the matter raised by Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, Khandre said the money the IAF received from handing over 58.08 acres at Peenya plantation to BMRCL to implement the Metro Rail project by violating the law will also be recovered.
The land allotted in 1987 was cancelled in 2017 and currently, in addition to 452 acres, 83 acres of forest land in Jarakabande and Peenya plantation are in the possession of IAF and action will be taken to clear this, he said. He claimed to have instructed officials to take steps to get the money as it should go to the forest department.
“The chief secretary wrote to the secretary of the Department of Defence on September 15, 2018, stating that if the Indian Air Force, Jalahalli, wants to continue using the said land for itself, it is mandatory to regularise the use of the said forest lands under the Forest (Conservation) Act-1980 and an application will have to be submitted,” he said.
“Although they (defence dept) were told to set right the issue of the forest because it (IAF) is an institution of national interest, they have not filed any application so far,” he pointed out.
Khandre informed the House that 159 acres and 29 guntas, including 132 acres, 3 guntas on survey no. 47 and 27 acres and 26 guntas in survey no. 48 of Gantiganahalli village in Yelahanka hobli of Bengaluru North taluk, where an air show is held every year, is also reserved forest area.
Earlier, Ashoka said the late Ramakrishna Hegde government had mistaken the land as revenue land and handed it over to the IAF. “Now, we need to protect these forest areas. No other projects can be implemented in forest regions. There are also court orders related to this. However, Air Force officials are not allowing any infrastructure development around this land. They are not permitting the construction of any roads or underpasses. This land should not be transferred to anyone for any reason,” he said.