The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has sought from the Karnataka government a detailed report on the construction of a road after diverting 0.0768 hectares of forest land at the Sirsi taluk in the Uttara Kannada district.
The road was allegedly constructed for a private individual, Preetam Prakash Palankar, without waiting for the ministry’s nod. The state government in November approved the diversion of forest land and sent the application to the ministry for its approval.
In a letter, dated November 22, to Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary (forest, ecology and environment), a copy of which is with The Indian Express, the ministry stated that it examined the state government’s proposal and observed that the proposed road had already been in existence.
