Bengaluru
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed officials to resolve existing disputes with the Forest Department and take prompt actions to enhance revenue collection. His remarks came during a meeting of the Mines, Geology, and Forest Departments held in the committee room of Vidhana Soudha.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted that the revenue growth of the Mines Department was at 54% during the same period last year, while the current year’s revenue collection stands at 46%. He emphasized the need to swiftly address issues with the Forest Department to facilitate increased revenue generation.
For the current fiscal year, the revenue collection target is set at ₹9,000 crore, with the collection amounting to ₹4,070.22 crore as of October. The Chief Minister advised officials to prioritize the state’s development and interests, warning that any actions detrimental to these goals will not be tolerated. He urged the Forest Department’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to demonstrate proactive measures without violating any regulations.
Additionally, he noted that other states do not categorize iron ore as a forest product and instructed officials to propose a similar framework for Karnataka in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.
The meeting was attended by Mines and Geology Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary L. Atheeq, Secretary of Commerce and Mines Department Vipul Bansal, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Ecology N. Manjunatha Prasad, and other officials.
