Inquiry ordered into tree felling in Devarayanadurga forests (Oct. 07)

Dear all,

The nature lovers in our media have helped immensely in the recent expose of irregularities in Devarayanadurga's jungles. Media of Tumakuru City were among those who caught the forest minister's gunman felling trees inside Devarayanadurga State Forest this Wednesday. The stories carried out by Devaraj, District Correspondent of The New Indian Express and Chandru, TV9 Tumakuru correspondent were noticed by Karnataka's Anti-corruption department(Lokayukta). The Deputy Chief of Karnataka's Lokayukta (Upa-Lokayukta) has ordered an enquiry into this. Please read the story at the end of this email.

In conservation,
Ameen

----------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:
The New Indian Express, Bangalore - State, Page 6
Friday, October 19, 2007

-------Quote-------

INQUIRY INTO CHARGES AGAINST CHENIGAPPA'S GUNMAN, OFFICIALS
Bangalore, Oct 18:

Upalokayukta Justice G Patri Basavana Goud on Tursday ordered a prelimnary inquiry against gunman of former forest minister C Chennigappa amd two forest officials for allegedly felling trees inthe Devarayanadurga Reserve Forest. Taking suo-muto notics of a news report that appeared in 'The NewIndian Express' on Thursday with regard to illegal felling of trees,the Upalokayukta has directed Conservator of Forests, Bangalore Circle, UV Singh to conduct a prelimnary inquiry and submit a report within one month. Based on the report, the Upalokayukta will decide whether or not a regular investigation under section 9 of the Lokayukta Act should be initiated. The report stated that Chennigappa's gunman Hanumanthappa was caught red-handed while fellingtrees and shifting logs from the forest.

-----Unquote-----

Please read yesterday's story on the gunman being caught at http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20071018021527&Page=K&Headline=Chennigappa%92s+gunman+caught+felling+trees&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Karnataka&Topic=0

Comments

Conservation of Devarayanadurga forest over the centuries

This is an unedited version of the story that was published in two parts* in the Deccan Herald, Bangalore, in Aug-Sep 2014. A view of Devarayanadurga forests ©Ameen Ahmed (All rights reserved) Located a stone’s throw distance from Tumkur city towards east atop one of the many hills of the metamorphic Closepet granite chain that runs, often breaking in between, from Hospet in north Karnataka to Yellandur near Chamarajanagar town in south is the picturesque Devarayanadurga village. It is a place which gives a sense of joy to varied people. To a Hindu pilgrim it is abode of the many gods well-known of which is Lord Narasimhaswamy. To a history buff, it is home to structures like the Devarayanadurga fort which is eye witness to the happenings here for the last few centuries. For a meditator, the ambience of the place at a height of almost 4,000 feet above sea level is perfect to spend some peaceful moments away from the noisy and polluted cities. Devarayanadurga village was the seat

Wild Tigress sighted (and caught) near Chitradurga after 60 (35 ?) years!!!

Dear friends, A wild tiger has been sighted near Holalkere in south-interior Karnataka's Chitradurga District after nearly 60 years (or 35 ?) years. Please click here to see a satellite image of the area on Google maps. Some of the stories as they appeared in the press are on this page. So, did this tigress come from south-west of Chitradurga via Joldala from the north-eastern portion of Bhadra Tiger Reserve? Or did it do so from the south-east of Chitradurga via the huge forest belt along the Tumkur - Chitradurga district borders. This sighting may fuel the controversy that Tigers might just be surviving in the forests of Mari Kanive State Forest (Chitradurga District) - Bukkapatna State Forest (Tumkur District). Or is it that the tiger population of Bhadra Tiger Reserve has increased beyond its carrying capacity driving young tigers like these out of its boundaries? But the biggest question is, are tigers (like leopards) adapting to so called "big prey-depleted"

Tiger in Devarayanadurga (Updated Aug. 2007)

I. Introduction to Devarayanadurga State Forest (DDSF): Devarayanadurga state forest was the first state forest to be declared in Karnataka (in 1907). It has been enjoying some sort of legal protection by the Government since as early as 1853. II. Vegetation/ Flora of Devarayanadurga forests: It is about 42.27 Sq km large and is a patch of mainly Dry Deciduous forest inter-spread with large patches of scrub and a few degraded moist deciduous forests in its valleys. The forest is degraded towards periphery. For a forest which is just about 6 km from Tumkur city, it is remarkably well preserved and wild. Both the Forest Department and the locals of Tumkur have special attachment towards this forest. It is important to note that there are no villages inside the forest here and there are many chunks of hilly forests adjoining Devarayana Durga state forest (DDSF) roughly about 20 sq. km, which although unprotected have a fairly good tree cover like the one at Ranthambore Nation

Tumakuru's Environment & Heritage Issues

Search This Blog