Monday, February 22, 2010
Allocation is in contravention of the Forest Conservation Act 1980: DCF

Mysore: With Forest Department claiming its ‘justified’ right over 100 acres land allotted by Revenue Department to Dr. Gangubai Hanagal Music and Performing Arts University, doubts are being raised as to whether academic activities will begin this year. Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Shashwathi Mishra in a letter (January 6, 2010) to Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan appealed for the cancellation of land allotted in Survey No. 469 of Varakodu village in Varuna Assembly Constituency to music university, as, according to her, the allocation is in contravention of the Forest Conservation Act 1980. After assuming charge as the Special Officer of the music university, Hanumanna Naik Dore expressed his desire over setting up the university in the serene and idyllic surrounding of heritage monument Raja Nilaya at Aloka, that comes under the Forest Department. The district administration, which could not acquire the land for ‘technical reasons’, finally zeroed in on 100 acres of land in Varakodu village, which is 15 km away from Mysore.

After following the procedures, the Revenue Department allotted the land to the music university on July 13, 2009 and transferred the ownership on August 20 the same year. On getting the land, Prof. Dore said the academic year would begin by September by constructing a few huts for the students to practise music. But now with the objection raised by the Forest Department, it is not certain whether the academic activities will begin in September.

But the senior revenue officials claim that of the 200.04 acres of land in Survey No. 469, about 199 acres is identified as Gomala land and of this, 100 acres was handed over to the music university. “Though the Forest Department is claiming right over the land, Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) has no entry in this regard”, they argue.

When The Hindu sought Ms. Mishra’s comments on the issue, she said that the Forest Department was in position of land in Survey No. 469 from 1966. Working Plan of the department testified the department’s contention. Over 429.15 acres of land in Survey No. 469 had been transferred to the department for plantation purpose in 1978 and now the area had rich natural forest and planted trees. To transfer the land, the State Government had to obtain the approval of the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment. Since the required permission was not obtained, allotment was clear violation of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, she argued.

When asked as to why there was no corresponding entry in the RTC, she said though several letters were written seeking mutation of the land, the Revenue Department had not responded properly. “Despite a letter to Mysore tahsildar requesting for mutation on August 24, 2009, he transferred the land to the music university on August 27, 2009 and the RTC and Mutation certificates were issued in a hurry”, she added.

Prof. Dore said: “The development is shocking”.

The Deputy Commissioner has said that a detailed report will be submitted to the Government after three weeks on whether truncated portion of 100 acres can be allotted to the music university or an alternative land has to be found.