Massive forest land encroachment cleared in Kadugodi, Bengaluru

Bengaluru

In a significant crackdown on illegal land occupation, the Bengaluru Urban Forest Department has launched a large-scale operation to clear encroachments on 120 acres of forest land in the Kadugodi Plantation area. The land, located in Bidarahalli Hobli of Bengaluru East Taluk, is valued at more than ₹4,000 crore in the current real estate market.

The eviction drive commenced early Sunday morning under tight police security, with officers deploying JCB earthmovers to demolish unauthorized constructions and reclaim government-owned forest property. The operation is being carried out under the direct supervision of senior forest department officials, who are also overseeing the demarcation of boundaries, installation of fencing, and the planting of native tree species to initiate reforestation.

This major action is part of an intensified effort by the state government to preserve and restore Bengaluru's rapidly vanishing green cover. Over the last few years, the city has witnessed rampant urban expansion, often at the cost of forest and environmental land. Encroachments, both residential and commercial in nature, have steadily encroached upon protected forest areas, leading to ecological concerns and mounting pressure on urban infrastructure.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, during a recent high-level meeting focused on the Kadugodi forest area, had issued clear directives to intensify surveillance and take swift action against encroachers. “Bengaluru is expanding rapidly, and in this race for development, we are losing our green lungs. Protecting forest patches is not optional—it is essential for the city’s sustainability and public health,” he said.

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As part of this push, the forest department has been conducting surveys and mapping exercises using satellite data and drone technology to identify illegally occupied land. Today’s clearance of 120 acres is being seen as one of the largest individual recoveries in recent years.

According to officials, the reclaimed land was under illegal occupation for several years, with portions being used for agriculture, unauthorized housing, and small-scale commercial activity. Notices had previously been issued to the encroachers, and eviction orders were enforced following due legal procedures.

With this latest operation, the total area of forest land recovered from encroachers in Bengaluru over the past two years has risen to 248 acres. The previously cleared 128 acres combined with the 120 acres reclaimed on Sunday takes the cumulative market value of recovered land to over ₹8,000 crore, forest officials stated.