Mysuru: In a move that is likely to raise the hackles of environmentalists, the Karnataka government has decided to hand over 1,657 acres and 36 guntas of revenue land at Samse village at Mudigere taluk in Chikkamagaluru district to the forest department in exchange for close to 1,470 acres of forested land in Uttara Kannada. The state government is seeking land in Uttara Kannada district for the completion of the ambitious Hubballi-Ankola railway line , for which the South Western Railways (SWR) had sought 1,469.38 acres of forested land in its report.Touted as a line that will bridge the distance between coastal Karnataka and North Karnataka, the line has been a long-pending demand among the people of the northern parts of the state. A gazette notification issued by the Karnataka government dated November 16, the 1,657-odd acre parcel of land was given to the National Mining Development Corporation in July 1969 for mining activities in Kudremukh. The property was later handed over to the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL), which stopped mining activities after many activities raised ecological concerns. A Supreme Court order finally put a stop to mining activities in the region.The gazette notification stipulated that the land could be utilised only for afforestation. The government order states that the Chikkamagaluru deputy commissioner (DC) must mention the survey numbers and boundaries while transferring the land. Also, the government's order is subject to the final order of the courts that look into property-ownership disputes. The government order stipulates that the forest department must return the land if it finds no purpose for the same.Sources in the Karnataka forest department said that the government's move to transfer the land was largely to avoid criticism from environmentalists, who have remained staunchly opposed to the Hubballi-Ankola railway line from the start. "There is little clarity on how afforestation in Chikkamagaluru will compensate for destruction of the woods in Uttara Kannada," said a forest department official.Environmentalist AN Yallappa Reddy told The Times of India, "This proposal will be fatal to the ecological balance of Uttara Kannada district. A minimum of 30 years is needed for a forest to grow. Who will generate oxygen and restore the ecological balance till the new forest comes up?"Pointing out that the Ankola region of the Western Ghats was already fragmented as a result of a slew of mega projects having come up there, he added, "Who wants this new line? Only those engaged in mining. It's a nonsensical idea to destroy forests to transport non-renewable treasures to foreign countries."

Stay updated with all the Latest Mysore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.