Karnataka government formed a task force to clear encroachments in forests and Western Ghats
- Karnataka government has formed a ‘forests and western ghats encroachment clearance task force’.
- This task force has been formed to clear illegal resorts, homestays and all forest encroachments in the entire Western Ghats.
- This task force has been formed under the leadership of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force.
- The forest department’s additional chief secretary issued orders for the removal of all forest encroachments in Western Ghats region.
- This decision has been taken after seeing the tragedies caused by landslides at Wayanad.
- Landslides are continuously occurring in the Western Ghats regions including Shiradi Ghat, and Charmadi Ghat.
- Section 64A of the Karnataka Forest Act deals with encroachment of forest land and ways to evict encroachers.
