Karnataka Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, on Wednesday issued directives to reclaim 444.12 acres of forest land in Bengaluru, currently occupied by the Indian Air Force (IAF), located in the Peenya plantation and Jarakabande reserved forest area. This move follows the rules outlined for forest land reclamation.
In 1987, the IAF was allotted 570 acres of land, but in 2017, the government canceled the sanction of 452 acres, designating it as forest land. Khandre pointed out that despite the 2017 order, the Air Force began illegal construction work on the land in question on March 1, without obtaining the necessary Forest Clearance (FC) permission.
According to the Minister, the land in question has now been officially registered as reserved forest under government records, with mutation completed. The Forest Department has also alerted Air Force officials and placed a sign marking the area as a reserved forest.
In response to the illegal construction, a formal letter was sent to the Ministry of Defense requesting clearance for the forest land. Despite receiving clear instructions, the Air Force continued construction activities, including building an office and setting up a shooting range on approximately 15 acres of the land, while the rest remains covered with trees and plants.
Khandre has called for immediate legal action to reclaim the forest land, ensuring compliance with rules through the Parivesh portal and a formal request for Forest Clearance (FC).
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