The Hindu : Eviction: Oppn. takes Govt. to task

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Eviction: Oppn. takes Govt. to task

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Dec. 27. M.C. Nanaiah (Independent) has said that the Opposition will move identical but separate resolutions in both the Houses on Monday seeking immediate steps by the Government on the issue of eviction of poor and SC and ST people in forest areas in Malnad and other districts as per the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Initiating the discussion on the issue under Rule 68 (issue of immediate public importance) in the Legislative Council today, Mr. Nanaiah said it was a sensitive issue that demanded a humane response from the Government. There was a dire need to understand the ground realities and the problems being faced by the poor people. The Government had failed to present a proper picture and convince the Central Empowerment Committee of the Supreme Court, he said.

Intervening in the debate, the Minister for Forests and Environment, K.H.Ranganath, said that there had been some "bureaucratic restrictions" in presenting the situation with all its complex problems. Besides, environmentalists were not aware of the nature of forests and the economic and social plight of communities depending on them for their livelihood. In this context "I do not want to use the term encroachment which is referred in the Supreme Court verdict." Records show that till the Union Government enacted the Forest Conservation Act in 1980, the State like others had a right to distribute forest lands. But the Central Empower Committee of the apex court had not given the required space for presenting the situation in all its complexities, he argued.

Rejecting the minister's argument, K.H. Srinivasa (JD-S), said that instead of shirking its responsibility the Government should come out why it had not countered the situation on its own as a section of its own officials was responsible for some of the problems being faced by the poor people living in forest areas.

"Your officials have fenced hamlets and villages and not forest areas. Several "kaalu daaris" (country roads) have been fenced, and civil suits against individuals and groups of people have been filed in Malnad areas by officials," he said.

Mr. Ranganath said that even the Chief Secretary could not present the situation as the Empowerment Committee was keen on the presentation in a prescribed format. "My statement would have amounted to contempt of court had I said it outside the House. But it is my right and privilege to discuss the issue in the proper light in the House as an elected representative," Mr. Ranganath asserted.

Not convinced by the minister's response, Mr. Nanaiah said that there was no need for the Government to plead its helplessness. "Consistent thinking is what is required. Besides, we should draw the Supreme Court's attention to the gravity of the problem."

The State should file an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The Empowerment Committee had given certain powers to its State Committee and Monitoring Committee in ascertaining facts and figures. The minister himself was the chairperson of the Monitoring Committee. "The minister's statement on the issue recorded in the minutes of the committee meetings has betrayed his present position on the issue and question the very discretion of the officials concerned. We are also human beings living near the forests and rural areas. We need not be taught about environment and ecological factors by a section of bureaucrats. There are practical and human difficulties in evicting people before conducting a proper survey of forests with a holistic perspective," Mr. Nanaiah said.

This question was even raised in Parliament by S. Bangarappa and others recently. A meeting should be convened by the Government for discussing the issue in both the Houses and the Opposition would move the resolutions on Monday, Mr. Nanaiah said.

The minister and some others also made references to the Chairperson, B. L. Shankar's reported involvement in the encroachment of forest lands and the Supreme Court's verdict on it. Mr. Shankar suggested that a resolution could be drafted in consultation with the Chief Minister and others.

The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Information, Kagodu Thimmappa, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, D.B. Chandre Gowda, and V.R. Sudarshan and Manjunath (Congress) participated in the discussion.

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