<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday said a joint survey with the revenue department is the solution to resolve confusions created by any errors in the deemed forest notification.</p>.<p>He also asked the officials concerned to make the map of 3.3 lakh acres of deemed forest available to the public to bring transparency over the ownership claims.</p>.<p>'Deemed forests' are wooded areas that are generally known to be forests but are not classified as such by central or state authorities in official records.</p>.<p>The issue regarding the forest-revenue land was discussed by Khandre at a high-level meeting held with Energy Minister K J George, who is also the in-charge minister for Chikkamagaluru district.</p>.<p>Khandre said that the state government has already finalised the list of deemed forests in an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court.</p>.<p>"It is also said that there is some 'patta' (cultivated land with ownership claims) land and even schools included in the revised list. But it is not possible to submit a separate affidavit for each district. So, if deputy commissioners in all the districts come together with the Forest Department, a joint survey can be conducted and the information will help to remove errors and a (revised) affidavit can be submitted,” he said, adding that only then this problem can be solved.</p>.<p>The minister also assured that the exercise to evict encroachments will be put on hold until the joint survey is completed.</p>.<p>Addressing the rising incidents of human-animal conflicts, the minister said that the lack of adequate rain has caused problems, and that railway barricades will be erected to prevent wild elephants from straying into human habitats.</p>.<p>In this context, the department has been instructed to submit a proposal, he said.</p><p>Efforts are being made to send wild elephants back to the forest and troublesome tuskers to the elephant camp, he added.</p>.<p>Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria said that efforts are being made by the department to make the deemed forest maps available online within a week.</p>.<p>He also said that with equipment like a sophisticated drone, a joint survey can be done. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday said a joint survey with the revenue department is the solution to resolve confusions created by any errors in the deemed forest notification.</p>.<p>He also asked the officials concerned to make the map of 3.3 lakh acres of deemed forest available to the public to bring transparency over the ownership claims.</p>.<p>'Deemed forests' are wooded areas that are generally known to be forests but are not classified as such by central or state authorities in official records.</p>.<p>The issue regarding the forest-revenue land was discussed by Khandre at a high-level meeting held with Energy Minister K J George, who is also the in-charge minister for Chikkamagaluru district.</p>.<p>Khandre said that the state government has already finalised the list of deemed forests in an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court.</p>.<p>"It is also said that there is some 'patta' (cultivated land with ownership claims) land and even schools included in the revised list. But it is not possible to submit a separate affidavit for each district. So, if deputy commissioners in all the districts come together with the Forest Department, a joint survey can be conducted and the information will help to remove errors and a (revised) affidavit can be submitted,” he said, adding that only then this problem can be solved.</p>.<p>The minister also assured that the exercise to evict encroachments will be put on hold until the joint survey is completed.</p>.<p>Addressing the rising incidents of human-animal conflicts, the minister said that the lack of adequate rain has caused problems, and that railway barricades will be erected to prevent wild elephants from straying into human habitats.</p>.<p>In this context, the department has been instructed to submit a proposal, he said.</p><p>Efforts are being made to send wild elephants back to the forest and troublesome tuskers to the elephant camp, he added.</p>.<p>Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria said that efforts are being made by the department to make the deemed forest maps available online within a week.</p>.<p>He also said that with equipment like a sophisticated drone, a joint survey can be done. </p>