Forest dept wants illegal structures around Bandipur razed

MYSURU: The revenue department has identified as many as 16 illegal structures on the periphery of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR), within the area classified as eco-sensitive zone. The forest department has been intimated about these violations, and all the structures will be razed in order to conserve the biodiversity of the forests, and protect wildlife.
Notice has been issued to Pratap Reddy, Aravind Venkatesh Reddy, Syed Tazim Aga and Nitish Narayana Reddy from Bengaluru, NM Naveen Kumar and Shaqib Ahmad of Mysuru, while the other owners of the illegal structures are from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagfar district.The forest department has directed the owners to reply to its notice and submit the required documents pertaining to the construction of the structures in question.
As many as 123 villages around Bandipur have been classified as coming under ‘eco-sensitive’ zone by the central government. Commercial activities are prohibited throughout these areas. The gram panchayat and local administrative bodies in all the 123 villages are required to obtain permission from the forest department before allowing any construction.
However, it has come to the notice of the revenue department that a few individuals have gone ahead with construction bypassing official channels and without obtaining approval from the local bodies. More than 30 separate agricultural plots within the purview of the Kundagere and Gopalaswamy betta forest ranges have been used for the construction of resorts and homestays, in violation of the norms.
On receiving reports of a survey conducted by the forest department to identify these illegal structures, BTR director T Balachandra wrote to the Chamarajanagar deputy commissioner alerting him to the violations, and seeking permission to raze all of them.
“Despite notice having been issued to the owners of these structures, they are continuing with construction in the eco-sensitive zone. The district administration must initiate action and demolish them to prevent incidence of human-animal conflict and ensure free movement of wild animals,” the letter read.
The BTR director has also written to the officials of the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation, asking them not to supply power to these properties. The letter also highlights the fact that the tourism department is yet to greenlight such activities in villages that fall under the eco-sensitive zone.
Gundlupet tahsildar M Nanjundaiah said that he had submitted a report to the Chamarajanagar DC about the particulars of the 16 illegal structures, which he said had been built without permission from the competent authorities.