Hubballi: The National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) Founder President S R Hiremath has welcomed the High Court decision to dismiss a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition objecting to declaring Kappatagudda as a conservation reserve.
Speaking to reporters, here Hiremath demanded the state government to display its commitment to protect this ecologically sensitive region.
He said through its order the High Court had defeated the ill-conceived attempt of the mining mafia to create hurdles in this direction. The government must take steps to revive the Kappatagudda hills with the active involvement of the local people, experts and Non-governmental organisations, he said adding that RDPR Minister H K Patil must also involve himself in this developmental work.
He also asked the state government to show similar commitment in vacating encroachment of nearly 12,000 acres of forest land by powerful politicians and others in various places. The reserve forests, especially in the Jakkur-Allasandra, Peenya-Jalahalli and Kenchaganahalli in Bengaluru should be cleared henceforth, he said.
