With the revenue, forest and land survey departments initiating the process of consolidating the land records of deemed forest in accordance with the survey number, a clear picture on the total area of deemed forest in Kodagu district is likely to be available in next 15 days.

According to sources, the decision to accumulate information on deemed forest has been taken in a district level meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari, based on the government’s order to re-examine deemed forest records.

Deemed forest is described as private land with features of the forest.

The government has already issued notification declaring various classifications of forests including reserve forest, protected/minor forest, sacred grove, Uruduve, sandal-teak reserve, village forest and Paisari. After collecting details about the already declared forest region, the officials are planning to examine private forest.

The deemed forest identified by the government in the past, comprised of Jamma Malai, Bane and C and D land.

The land records of these land was different with forest and revenue department documents, creating confusion not only among the public, but also in the government level.

In order to clear the confusion, the government has directed the district administration to specifically identify the notified forest and deemed forest.

It was based on this order, the deputy commissioner chaired a meeting to discuss the issue on Wednesday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna, Deputy Conservator of Forest Hnaumanthappa and Dhananjay, Land Records Deputy Director Mallikarjunaiah, tahsildars of Madikeri, Somwarpet and Virajpet and other officers were present in the meeting.

Background

In Godaverman case judgement, the Supreme Court had directed all the states to provide information about the forest land in their limits.

The court had specified to consider the word ‘forest’ as per its connotation in the dictionary.

According to the dictionary, forest implies a land spreading across at least 2.5 hectare with minimum 50 trees in it.

Accordingly, a large portion of private land in Kodagu district too comes under the purview of ‘forest’ as they are spread over 2.5 hectare land comprising more than 50 trees.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Shrikanth Kallammanavar / Madikeri – July 04th, 2014