Forest cover depletes in Krishna district

G.V.R. SUBBA RAO

115.8 hectare of forest land has been cleared and encroached upon in the last two years

• The initiative to raise plantations in forest land also accounts for negative growth
• Attempts to encroach upon forest land traced in Sunkollu and Kantreipadu of Nuzvid range

Not for long:A view of the fast depleting Kondapalli
forest near Vijayawada.— Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

The forest cover in Krishna district is depleting and a negative growth is being recorded, if the satellite images are to be believed. The negative growth has been recorded in two consecutive years of 2010 and 2011.

As much as 115.8 hectares of forest land has been cleared and encroached upon. The initiative to raise plantations in forest land has also accounted for negative growth in the district.

Satellite images point out that there is a decrease of 41.96 Ha of open forest and 4.30 Ha of scrub between 2009 (October-December) and 2010 (October-December).

The State government, in the forest report 2012, noted that a negative change (including scrub) of 27.66 Ha is on account of clearance of jungle growth for raising plantations. Encroachments accounted for 18.6 Ha.

The negative growth was recorded in previous year as well. Comparison of forest cover (satellite data of October 2009) with that assessment year (satellite imagery of October 2008-February 2009), shows a negative change of 150.28 Ha.

There is a decrease of 20 Ha of moderately dense forest, 126 Ha of open forest. Of the total negative change, raising plantations accounts for 53.08 Ha, and encroachments in 97.2 Ha.

A negative growth was recorded in Nuzvid range of Vijayawada division in the district, as 27.66 Ha was cleared for plantation. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation is supposed to take up plantation there. Fresh attempts to encroach on forest land were traced in Sunkollu and Kantreipadu of Nuzvid range.

When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer P.J. Banerjee said that the vegetation growth depends on various factors including rainfall and sub-soil moisture.

The clearance of vegetation for raising plantations was a forest management intervention. So, it cannot be considered as loss of forest cover. There were few old encroachments, and fresh attempts were made. Cases were slapped against the encroachers, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/forest-cover-depletes-in-krishna-district/article4444521.ece

Scramble for waterfront villas threatens river

G. KRISHNAKUMAR

With the increasing demand for waterfront property in Ernakulam district, encroachments have become rampant at the Kadambrayar and its adjoining wetlands.

Apartments, villas and other private buildings have
come up along the bed of the nearly 7.52-km-long creek

Several apartments, villas and other private buildings have come up along the bed of the nearly 7.52 km-long creek.

Reclamation of the wetlands and the creek is commonplace at many areas along the Kadambrayar, making a mockery of the district administration’s claims of a crackdown against the encroachers.

Reduced width

A cruise down the creek from its entrance at the Kizhakambalam stretch reveals that the width of the river had reduced at areas near Pallikara, Athani, Thengodu, Thamarachal and the confluence of Kadambrayar and Chitrapuzha near Brahmapuram.

Recalling that the lack of authentic data on the actual width of the river was helping real estate developers, V. N. Sivasankara Pillai, former Director of the School of Environmental Studies who had conducted extensive studies on Kadambrayar, pointed out that reclamation of wetlands was rampant in many areas near the creek. “The big developers are confident of overcoming legal and other hurdles while buying a waterfront property or a wetland. They exploit loopholes in the existing regulations to own land,” he said.

Media house

S. Sitaraman, noted environmentalist, has alleged that the Thrikkakara municipal authorities helped a media house which allegedly encroached about 550 sq. m of the creek opposite the Kochi Corporation’s solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.

“They were issued a stay after the local residents and the Kadambrayar Samrakshana Samithi complained of encroachment. But work has resumed at the site and the authorities are yet to restore the reclaimed land to its original condition,” he said.

Denying the allegation, P.A. Mohammed Ali, chairman of Thrikkakara municipality, said that the media house had encroached between five and eight metres into the creek and the stay order still stands. “We will send officials of the engineering department tomorrow to stop the work, if any,” he said.

The municipal chairman’s statement was corroborated by a police official at the Thrikkakara police station, who had visited the site following tension between property owners and local residents.

He told The Hindu that the municipality had already issued a stay but there had been no communication about it being vacated till Monday.

Local residents near Pallikara and Kakkanad pointed out that the demand for land in areas near Kadambrayar was high.

“A major chunk of the land close to the creek is owned by leading jewellery groups. This place is also one of the most sought-after investment destinations of the Malayalam film industry,” a promoter of a tourism project in Kadambrayar said.

Suggesting that a scientific study be held to ascertain the original width of the creek, Prof. Pillai and Prof. Sitaraman recommended that the authorities check further encroachments to save one of the few freshwater sources in Ernakulam district.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/scramble-for-waterfront-villas-threatens-river/article4356057.ece

Forest officials cannot be granted immunity: State

Government has to implement provisions of the SC & ST Act’
In a setback to the forest force, the State government on Wednesday informed the Karnataka High Court that it cannot provide any “immunity” to officials of the Department of Forests from being “falsely” prosecuted under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by persons accused of forest land encroachment, poaching and smuggling.

State Advocate-General S. Vijay Shankar made submissions in this regard during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition initiated suo motu by the High Court on the issue of false complaints filed by accused persons against forest officials under the provisions of the Act.

The court had initiated the PIL petition based on a plea by the Karnataka State Range Forest Officers Association and the Karnataka State Assistant Conservators of Forests Association.

It was complained that during the past one year, in a majority of cases booked by forest officials against those indulging in encroachment of forest land, poaching, timber smuggling, etc., the offenders had subsequently lodged counter-complaints with the police under the Act against forest officials.

“The government cannot direct the Home Department not to register case against forest officials under the SC and ST Act. It is the State government which has to implement the provisions of the SC and ST Act, which is a Central legislation,” Mr. Shankar argued pointing out that the petition cannot be treated as in “public interest” as it was related to private interest of forest officials.

Can seek bail

Mr. Shankar also submitted that the forest officials, against whom cases under the Act were registered by the jurisdictional police, would have to approach the jurisdictional court either seeking bail or anticipatory bail, while making it clear that forest officials probing forest offences cannot be granted “immunity.”

However, K.N. Phanindra, court-appointed amicus curiae , pointed out that the issue taken up in the suo motu petition was of public interest as the provision of a law was being misused against officers of the State by the accused persons.

Mr. Phanindra insisted that the contentions raised by the Advocate-General be submitted to the court in form of a statement by the government.

Different say

Interestingly, during earlier hearing on December 13, 2012, the government had informed the court that it would submit a draft notification to grant relief or immunity to forest officials who had taken action against any person belonging to SC or ST community, from being prosecuted by such accused persons.

This submission was made on behalf of the government when the court asked what step was taken to protect forest officials, probing forest offence cases, when a large number of cases under the Act were filed against such officials.

A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice K. Sreedhar Rao and Justice B.V. Nagarathna adjourned further hearing by three weeks.

MP, MLA booked for violating Wildlife Act

Forest Department officials on Monday booked Congress MP from Eluru Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Kaikalur MLA Jayamangala Venkata Ramana and 12 others under various Sections of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The Forest Department authorities also lodged a complaint with the Kaikalur Police against the MP, the MLA and their followers for damaging the Fifth Plus Contour, assaulting and deterring a public servant from discharging his duties.

Speaking to The Hindu , Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Management) B. Ramakrishna said that cases had been registered against the MP and the MLA and their followers under Sections.27, 29, 51 and 52 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Kaikalur Circle Inspector E. Ashok Kumar Goud said that the police were examining the complaint and cases would be registered after obtaining legal opinion from the experts.

On Sunday, the MP and MLA, along with their followers, illegally entered the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary near Atapaka Bird Sanctuary. They tried to lay road on Kolleru Bund connecting Atapaka village in Krishna district and Komatilanka island village of West Godavari district.

The forest officials rushed to the spot and explained that movement of public and vehicles was banned in the sanctuary.

Mild tension prevailed on the district borders, when the leaders allegedly assaulted the forest staff and dumped sand with tractors to strengthen the bund.

“The accused violated the provisions of Wildlife Act and entered into the sanctuary on vehicles. No road should be laid and movement of public and vehicles restricted for providing conducive atmosphere for roosting of birds. But, the pelicans, storks, herons and other birds were disturbed due to the incident,” said a forest officer.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/mp-mla-booked-for-violating-wildlife-act/article4285115.ece