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RTI applications filed for info on forests of Tumkur Dist.

Dear Nature lovers,

Nature lovers Mallik (Mallikarjun) and Ameen (Ameen Ahmed) have filed 2 applications each under the Right to Information Act (2005), seeking information on forests of Tumkur. Many of these questions refer to Devarayanadurga State Forest, in tune with our latest efforts to save it from total destruction.

We are awaiting the answers to these questions.

I. 25th August 2007: Application no: 1 filed by Ameen

Request to provide following information with reference to Devarayanadurga, Panditanahalli and Ramadevara Betta state forests in Tumkur Territorial Range
1) How many tree-felling cases have been booked since 1997 till date in th above forests?
2) How many of these cases have been proved in the court?
3) How many forest offence cases including illegal quarrying, illegal sand lifting and encroachment cases have been booked since 1997 till date in the above forests?
4) How many of these cases have been proved in the court?
5) How many dead trees have been removed since 1997 in the above forests?
6) How many Eucalyptus trees have been removed since 1997 in the above forests?
7) How many trees have been felled for road widening since 1997 in the above forests?
8) Does the forest department have records of the area of forest cover under Revenue Department adjoining the boundaries of these forests? If yes, how many hectares of forest is controlled by the revenue department?

II. 25th August 2007: Application no: 2 filed by Ameen

Request to provide following information with reference to state and reserve forests of Tumkur Division
1) How many forest offence cases including illegal quarrying, illegal sand lifting and encroachment cases have been booked since 1997 from the state and reserve forests of Tumkur Territorial Division?
2) How many of these cases have been proved in the court?
3) How many dead trees have been removed since 1997 from the state and reserve forests of Tumkur Territorial Division?
4) How many Eucalyptus trees have been removed since 1997 from the state and reserve forests of Tumkur Territorial Division?
5) How many trees have been felled for road widening since 1997 from the state and reserve forests of Tumkur Territorial Division?
6) How much money has been spent on roadside tree planting since 1997 inside the state and reserve forests in Tumkur Territorial Division?
7) Does the Tumkur Territorial Division maintain satellite images of the division’s forest cover? If yes, what is the period of updating these records?


III. 10th September 2007: Application no: 1 filed by Mallik

1a) Whether any action has been taken regarding my complaint letter to you dated June 12, 2007 with the subject “Tree felling, blasting of rocks and forest destruction to build road inside Devarayana Durga state forest”.
1b) If action is taken, kindly provide me with a copy of the Action Taken Report.
1c) If action not taken, kindly provide the reasons for the delay in taking action, as I am an affected party under section 4 (1) (d) of RTI (2005).

2a) Whether any action has been taken regarding complaint letter to you dated 2 July, 2007 with subject “Complaint against illegal expansion of Giregowdanahalli – Maidenahalli / Hosahalli 'kachcha' road / cart track inside Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve, Madhugiri Taluk, Tumkur District”
2b) If action is taken, kindly provide me with a copy of the Action Taken Report.
2c) If action not taken, kindly provide the reasons for the delay in taking action, as I am an affected party under section 4 (1) (d) of RTI (2005).

3a) Whether any action has been taken with reference to the two cases filed by forest department on 8th and 9th June 2002 against the road widening inside Devarayanadurga state forest near Devarayanadurga village without permission from the Forest department? Please refer letter dated 12 June 2002, No:VA AA KA: TUVA: A. Kra.Dooru: G.L:157:2002-03 by Range Forest Officer (Tumkur Territorial Range) to Ameen Ahmed, Wildlife Aware Nature Club, Tumkur.
3b) If action taken, kindly provide me with a copy of the Action Taken Report.
3c) If action not taken, kindly provide the reasons for the delay in taking action, as I am an affected party under section 4 (1) (d) of RTI (2005).

IV. 10th September 2007: Application no: 2 filed by Mallik

1a) Whether clearance conditions imposed by MoEF for forest and environmental clearances including those under Forest Conservation Act (1980) have been complied with by agency that is the laying the new powerline through Devarayanadurga State Forest besides the Oordigere Road leading to Navodaya School near Janapanahalli?
1b) If yes, kindly provide the details of action taken for compliance
1c) The number of trees that are going to be felled for this project along with their details like the tree species, age of the tree, physical condition of the tree etc.

2a) Whether clearance conditions imposed by MoEF for forest and environmental clearances including those under Forest Conservation Act (1980) have been complied with by the agency that is the widening the road from Oordigere Road 8th km stone leading to Namadachelume inside Devarayanadurga state forest?
2b) If yes, kindly provide the details of action taken for compliance.
2c) The number of trees that are going to be felled for this project along with their details like the tree species, age of the tree, physical condition of the tree etc.

3a) Does the forest department maintain records of the commercial non-passenger vehicles using / passing through the roads inside Devarayanadurga State Forest?
3b) If yes, how many commercial non-passenger vehicles have passed through Devarayanadurga State Forest in the year 2006?

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