Farmer organisations, environmental activists and workers of the BJP Belagavi Rural unit staged a protest at the Forest Department office here on Friday, demanding strict action against officials for failing to prevent illegal felling of trees, including sandalwood, at Kaurigudda in Badal Ankalgii village.
For more details : https://www.prajavani.net/district/belagavi/forest-land-dispute-farmers-protest-3767036
The protesters alleged that trees were cut for a solar power project under the PM-KUSUM scheme despite the Forest Department denying permission. According to them, trees spread across more than eight acres of gomala land were felled illegally, causing severe environmental damage.
They demanded immediate suspension of the officials responsible for the lapse and urged the government to recover the financial loss caused by the destruction of valuable trees from those accountable. The agitators also sought action against revenue and district administration officials for allocating gomala land for the project.
Pointing out that the area is a dense green patch and a habitat for peacocks and several bird species, the protesters said the felling of decades-old trees has caused irreversible ecological damage. They warned that protests would be intensified if the authorities failed to take concrete action in the matter.
Several farmer leaders, environmentalists and local party leaders participated in the protest.
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