The Karnataka authorities has quietly dropped its plan to provoke disciplinary motion towards 5 officers who allowed electrification work in Belagavi’s Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary allegedly with out the setting ministry’s approval.
In line with forest division officers, the course from the federal government to drop the motion got here in April. The directive, issued by S Srinivas, below secretary (forest, ecology, setting), stated it was discovered that the electrification mission was not a personal one.
“And furthermore, the electrical line has been laid alongside the street and no timber have been felled for the aim, and therefore it has been determined to drop the disciplinary proceedings towards C B Patil, Assistant Conservator of Forest (Retd); S G Wandre, Vary Forest Officer (Retd) (Deceased); M G Nandeppagol, Deputy Vary Forest Officer; and forest guards Mahesh Dhulkhedkar and Andanappa Hanasi,” the April 22 order learn.
The electrification work began in 2016 and the then deputy conservator of forest Basavaraj Patil issued notices to Nandeppagol in April 2017. In 2019 the principal chief conservator of forest sought a proof from the officers.
A senior forest official stated on the situation of anonymity that there have been gross irregularities in the way in which the inquiry was carried out. Part 2 of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 was violated as forest land was diverted for non-forestry functions, the official alleged.
“It was a surreptitious transfer and solely now the folks have gotten to learn about it…The electrification was carried out by the Hubli Electrical Provide Firm Ltd (Hescom) with out searching for permission from the state forest division and the Nationwide Board of Wildlife. As many as 192 poles have been erected within the sanctuary itself. When activists protested, it was revealed that the native politicians had pressured Hescom to erect the poles with out searching for the permissions. Senior forest officers had visited the spot and located irregularities.
The electrification work was then stopped,” the official stated.
Jawaid Akhtar, further chief secretary (forest, ecology and setting), didn’t reply to calls.