Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, Oct 8: Forest officials in Beltangady have demolished the foundation of a house belonging to a family that has resided in Amminadka, Kalenja village for a century.

Kuddamane Sesa Gowda and his wife had been cultivating rubber on their one-and-a-half-acre land and living there with their five children. Recently, one of their grandchildren began constructing a house with an asbestos sheet roof. However, on October 6, Uppinangady forest officials demolished the construction.

Upon learning of the incident, MLA Harish Poonja arrived at the scene, leading to a heated exchange with the forest officials who claimed the land belonged to the forest department.

MLA Poonja directed local youths to rebuild the foundation immediately, further escalating tensions between the forest officials and the MLA.

MLA Harish Poonja promptly contacted Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, who ordered the forest officials to maintain the status quo given that the family has occupied the land for a century.

As a result, local youths erected a temporary shed and even conducted a housewarming ceremony.