On Friday, forest minister CH Vijayshankar vowed to protect medicinal and aromatic plants of Kappatagudda in Gadag district from wind mills and declare it as a reserve area.
On Friday, forest minister CH Vijayshankar vowed to protect medicinal and aromatic plants of Kappatagudda in Gadag district from wind mills and declare it as a reserve area. He should take a similar step in Karadigudda of Davangere district where too the forest department has flouted all rules while giving permission for setting up windmills.
Karadigudda, popular as Tuppadahalli forest area, is also a victim of a private windmill company. Villagers have complained against the firm to the deputy commissioner and Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for forest and environment. But in vain.
On Saturday, Venkatesh, a resident of Avinahatti village, complained to the chief conservator of forests and demanded suspension of the work order issued to Chitradurga Wind Power Project Limited (CWPPL).
“On December 14, 2010, the deputy conservator of forests Bhadravati division issued work order for CWPPL, Bangalore, to set up windmills at Tuppadahalli forest by diverting forest area to an extent of 72.527 hectares. The above work is being carried out in violation of the Forest Act and the company is using explosive substances for carrying out blasting activities. In fact, the Davangere DC has been misled to issue NOC for carrying out blasting operation without even obtaining the opinion of the forest officers,” said Venkatesh in his complaint.
Though the survey numbers and names of villages are clearly mentioned in the NOC, it does not indicate that these are forest lands falling under Tuppadahalli state forest. Therefore, it is not open for the DC to grant the NOC. In the meantime, CWPPL has not taken consent from grama panchayats to carry out the work, the complaint said.
Way back to 2003, the DC has transferred land survey number 16 to an extent of 190 acres to forest department. Thus, it is clear that the user agency has not provided any forest land as compensation for diversion of land for this project and this is a clear case of misleading the authorities. Hence, the sanction has been obtained by the user agency by misrepresentation of facts.
“Our intention is just to save natural resources,” said Venkatesh.
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