Karnataka: Illegal resorts, homestays to be removed from encroached forest land in 10 districts
New Indian ExpressCHIKKAMAGALURU: In the wake of the loss of lives and property in landslides at Shiruru in Uttara Kannada and Wayanad in neighbouring Kerala, the Karnataka forest department has ordered the removal of homestays and resorts that have come up on encroached forest land in 10 districts falling under the Western Ghat range. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had recently directed the department to remove illegal homestays, resorts and plantations that have come up in forest areas since 2015 and submit a report within a month. According to information from the tourism department, more than 2,000 homestays and resorts have come up at the Chadradrona hill ranges and other parts of Malnad region in Chikkamagaluru district. Welcoming the government’s decision, former wildlife board member S Girijashankar said homestay and resort owners, who have built structures on hill sides and are using water from natural resources in the Shola forests, are responsible for landslides and pollution of waterbodies in forests.
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