Haveri
In the district, a substantial area of forest land, totaling 3,683.4 acres out of 39,849 hectares, has been illegally occupied by over 2,375 individuals. Allegations suggest political support for these encroachments, despite Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre’s orders to remove all illegal occupations statewide.
Critics have expressed doubts about the enforcement of these directives, noting a lack of tangible action to address the issue. The encroachment, primarily for agricultural purposes, has resulted in heightened human-wildlife conflicts, particularly in areas near the lush Malenadu regions of Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada.
The Department of Forest is focusing on evicting encroachments reported after 2015, specifically targeting those occupying more than three acres. Data indicates that 143 encroachers occupy 683.4 acres, while 2,232 others have claimed less than three acres each, amounting to 2,952 acres of forest land in private hands.
Hirekerur taluk has seen the highest encroachment, with 2,608 acres converted for agriculture, followed by Haveri taluk at 587 acres. Environmentalist Prof. NR Birasal has criticized forest officials for failing to remove encroachments in the Ranebennur Black Buck Sanctuary, despite orders from the Karnataka High Court, suggesting political pressure may be influencing their inaction.
