Forest dept. reclaims 120 acres of encroached land worth over ₹4,000 Cr in Bengaluru

In a major push to safeguard Bengaluru’s dwindling green cover, the Karnataka Forest Department reclaimed 120 acres of encroached forest land in the city’s eastern zone on Monday. The operation, conducted in the Kadugodi Plantation area of Bidarahalli Hobli, was initiated under the directions of Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre.

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The cleared land, located in Survey No. 1 of Kadugodi Plantation in Bengaluru East Taluk, is estimated to be worth over ₹4,000 crore. The operation involved demarcation of the forest boundaries and plantation of native saplings, with police support ensuring a smooth execution.

This effort is part of an ongoing drive to retrieve forest land across Bengaluru. Over the past two years, the forest department has reclaimed approximately 248 acres of encroached land, with a total estimated value exceeding ₹8,000 crore.

In another initiative earlier this week, Minister Khandre launched the second phase of the B Channasandra Lake restoration in Kasturinagar. The project, supported by local residents, is being transformed into forest land in official records to safeguard it from further encroachment.

In North Bengaluru, action has also been initiated on land in Banaswadi village, where a portion of forest land was found to be misused. Restoration efforts have begun, including clearing, fencing, and planting saplings, to reinforce the government’s commitment to protecting the city’s natural assets.