Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (MS)

Puttue, Nov 4: Government officials belonging to various departments thwarted the public, who tried to build unauthorized homes on encroached forest land, at Shokila, Barya village on Friday November 3.

A few days ago, an unauthorised house was built at the land of Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation Ltd (KCDC) at Shokila by a private person. Many people, who saw this act, put stone marking and also brought material required for building houses. Certain organizations also backed the act of these people. However, locals complained on this development to the concerned departments. Accordingly, officials from the forest department, KCDC and police, visited the spot and vacated the place of all the marks and materials.

Tense situation prevailed at the spot as the public had fierce argument with the officials saying that no action is being taken against the powerful person, who had built a house and encroached nearly five acres of land belonging to the forest department. However, when poor people, who do not have house, try to build a house at the same land, the officials are not allowing the same. They also questioned the discrimination against rich and poor by the government.

Responding to the grievance of public, Venkappa Naik, forest officer, said, "We will conduct survey and mark the land that belongs to the forest department. If government land is encroached, then action will be taken against concerned people." This assurance of the officer diffused the situation.