Eviction notices to families at Yadamane in Sagar taluk, farmers and politicians come in support of affected families

The Forest Department has issued notices to several families in Yadamane village, Sagar taluk, asking them to vacate and hand over the land they have cultivated for decades to the department. This has left the residents worried. Farmers’ organisations and politicians from the taluk have criticised the State government for issuing notices to the families who moved to their current location after giving up their land due to the construction of a dam across the Sharavathi River.

The Forest Department has issued notices to several families in Yadamane village, Sagar taluk, asking them to vacate and hand over the land they have cultivated for decades to the department. This has left the residents worried.

Farmers’ organisations and politicians from the taluk have criticised the State government for issuing notices to the families who moved to their current location after giving up their land due to the construction of a dam across the Sharavathi River.

The Range Forest Officer (RFO) of the Sharavathi Wildlife Range served notices to the families, citing the order issued by the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the Kargal Wildlife Division.

The Forest Department had filed cases against the families who encroached upon forest areas as early as 1998. The ACF heard the case, and an eviction order was passed in January 2013. Now, 13 years later, the RFO has served notices to the families to move out. Over the years, the families had cultivated areca, paddy, and other crops. After the notices were served, leaders from both the Congress and the BJP visited the families and conveyed their support.

Former Minister and BJP leader Hartal Halappa addressing a press conference on the issue of notices served to families of Yadamane, in Shivamogga, on Friday. | Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh

Former Minister Hartal Halappa, at a press conference in Shivamogga on Saturday, stated that the families had moved to Yadamane in the 1960s, as per instructions from the then-officers. “They are not encroachers of the forest area. They gave up their land for the construction of the Linganmakki Dam and moved out. Now, they are being forced to move out again. Where will they go, leaving behind the land they have cultivated for decades?” he questioned.