A recent order by Assistant Commissioner of Hassan sub-division, converting 61 acres and 32 guntas of forest land at Tyavihalli adjoining Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway near Hassan to grazing land (gomala), has set off alarm bells in the Forest Department. The Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of Hassan has served a notice to the Assistant Commissioner and tahsildar of Hassan questioning the basis for the conversion.
Forest officials believe that the conversion is aimed at helping real estate interests, as the land abuts the busy Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway.
Acting on a petition by a few villagers of Tyavihalli in Shantigrama hobli, on January 5 this year, Assistant Commissioner B.A. Jagadish ordered that 61 acres and 32 guntas of land in Survey Number 22 of Tyavihalli be designated as gomala (grazing land) in the record of rights, tenancy and crops (RTC/pahani).
