Bengaluru
About Rs 2,000 crore is pending from reputed companies who have been growing coffee, tea and rubber in Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and other districts of the state on lease since pre-independence. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ishwara B Khandre said that lease money and interest are due to the extent of Rs 2,000.
It has been noticed that there is arrears, and it has been decided to form a special team under the leadership of BP Ravi, who is currently the Principal Secretary of the Environment Department, to collect the same. In addition, he said that a special legal cell will be created to fight the legal battle for speedy settlement of the cases in the court.
Our state forest area has more than 5,500 acres of forest land. Long term leases of 99 years were granted to various companies and individuals during the British rule at Rs 2, Rs 7. He said that some leases were renewed before the Forest Protection Act came into force after independence.
In 1997, the lease rate was increased by Rs 5,000 per hectare and the companies went to court challenging this increase and paying interest. He said that these companies have not paid the lease for decades, the Minister said.
