Constituency-wise meetings to be held on deemed forest issue, says Min Limbavali

Udupi: Forest Minister Arvind Limbavali said that constituency-wise meetings will be held across the State to address the deemed forest issue with the first meeting to be held in Karkala on Sunday.

Speaking after the Forest Department’s progress review meeting on Saturday here, he said that there is a total of 68,000 hectares of deemed forest in the Udupi district and all related problems to it will be resolved in the next 3-4 months.

He added that the forest and revenue departments would also hold a meeting to resolve the issue of kumki lands.

“The Deputy Conservator of Forests has been authorized to grant permission for the construction of a new road if not being built in a reserve forest. If it is a reserve forest area, a proposal has to be submitted online which will be reviewed by the chief minister and the forest minister for approval,” he said.

“A ‘Smritivana’ in the name of Pejawara chief Shri Vishwatheertha Swamiji will be built in Nilavara,” he added.