Karnataka Forest Encroachment Spurs Call to Pause Approval Plans

Fast Summary

• Forest encroachments are rampant in Karnataka, especially in Hassan, Shivamogga, and other circles.
• activist Raghavendra has requested the Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to withhold approval of forest working plans until substantial eviction drives occur.
• His appeal cites a Center-issued circular from May 2002 linking approval of forest directives to eviction actions, and a Supreme Court order on November 23, 2001.
• Karnataka recorded 1,385 new encroachment cases in 2023-24 and 992 cases in 2022-23; major hotspots include Bengaluru, belagavi, Kanara circles.
• Multi-tiered committees mandated by the Ministry to monitor evictions allegedly remain non-functional in Karnataka according to the activist’s complaint.
• calls for accountability state that senior officials should face disciplinary consequences for fresh encroachments as per Ministry directives.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The rise in forest encroachment cases across Karnataka underscores systemic challenges such as enforcement inertia and administrative bottlenecks that undermine legal frameworks designed to protect natural ecosystems. The linkage between working plan approvals and eviction compliance seems logical if implemented effectively; however,concerns about dormant monitoring committees highlight governance gaps that demand immediate attention.

The complaint raises broader implications regarding balancing conservation efforts with developmental pressures exerted by vested interests-whether local or political lobbies-on public lands. Transparent tracking mechanisms along with stronger accountability measures may serve as critical tools for addressing both environmental degradation and institutional inefficiencies without further delaying conservation policies or Centrally Sponsored scheme implementations.Read more: Published – July 23,2025