HAS THE SHAMELESSNESS OF THE KARNATAKA REAL ESTATE–MAFIA GOVERNMENT HIT A NEW LOW?
Fresh Attempt to Divert Kadugodi Forest Land
Newspaper report that the Commerce and Industries Ministry headed by MB Patil initiated a fresh attempt to divert about 120 acres of the Kadugodi Reserve Forest for a industrial park. Shockingly, this forest land had only recently been recovered and restored to the Forest Department, after the Supreme Court direction.
Is this a conspiracy for land grab?
KIADB does not have any right to acquire forest lands. It is against the law! The KIADB is just a land-grab vulture, aiding real estate mafia. It operates unlawfully and encroaches both private and public lands violating the laws TO FACILITATE LAND GRAB BY REAL ESTATE MAFIA!
IT IS HIGH TIME THIS ROGUE ORGANISATION IS DISBANDED!
MB PATIL, PLEASE KEEP THE DIRTY HANDS OF THE KIADB OFF FOREST LANDS!
Diverting this land again would completely reverse the recent conservation effort and put the future of the forest at risk.
The Karnataka Government has not even fully implemented the Supreme Court’s May 2025 order directing the restoration of illegally diverted forest lands. Even more disturbing is the fact that the little land that has been recovered is now being eyed again for diversion.
The Forest Department had gone to great lengths to recover these 120 acres out of the total 711 acres of the Kadugodi Reserve Forest, with plans to develop it into an Urban Forest and planted 50,000 saplings. This initiative would create a desperately needed green lung for the over-concretised Whitefield area.
Yet even before restoration efforts have fully taken root, powerful interests appear to be attempting to reclaim this land for development.
What kind of governance allows such blatant disregard for environmental protection and judicial orders? Do the laws of the land and the public interest matter?
Instead, the government must focus on fully restoring the entire 711 acres of Kadugodi Reserve Forest and protecting it as an urban forest and vital ecological lung space for East Bengaluru.
We hope Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre firmly rejects any attempt to divert this forest land again.
This shocking move deserves a complete thumbs-down for the Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government.