Strict measures needed to protect the Western Ghats: Tonse Jayakrishna Shetty
Satellite imagery alone is not conclusive evidence
(Udupi) Tonse Jayakrishna Shetty, founder of the Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, stated that if investigations confirm deliberate illegal land encroachment, the creation of forged documents, land grabbing through fraud or intimidation, illegal construction, or organized land grabbing, such cases should be handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies, and police cases should be registered if necessary.
The Forest and Revenue Departments should coordinate to verify records and scientifically identify illegal encroachments based on old records, details of land ownership and usage, satellite imagery, and on-site inspections.
However, it is incorrect to label every villager, farmer, or private property owner in an area as an illegal encroacher simply because the location falls within an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
Similarly, any eviction or punitive action should be taken only after a comprehensive review—considering not just satellite imagery, but also Revenue and Forest Department records, old land records, on-site inspections, and the legal rights of the individuals concerned. Environmental conservation in the Western Ghats is crucial. At the same time, it is equally important to ensure that measures taken do not infringe upon the rights of villagers, farmers, and private property owners who are residing there legally.
Environmental conservation and the rights of local people regarding their lawful property and livelihoods are not mutually exclusive. While the government must take strict action against actual illegal encroachments, land grabbing, and fraud, it must also protect the rights of those living there legally.
Innocent and lawful residents should not face injustice in the name of Western Ghats conservation. Alongside environmental protection, ensuring social justice and safeguarding lawful property rights are also equal responsibilities of the government.
It is a matter of grave concern that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change—under the leadership of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav—has directed the state government to take action in certain areas based on the Kasturirangan report and satellite-based findings, creating a situation where innocent, long-term residents face potential eviction.
Such eviction measures could leave the local residents destitute, causing them to lose their homes, livelihoods, and the very foundation of their existence. While environmental conservation is indeed crucial, the lives of ordinary citizens who have been residing in an area legally or for a long period should not be jeopardized in its name.
Against this backdrop, the Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti strongly condemns any unilateral eviction drive that harms the interests of citizens.
It is the government’s responsibility to strike a balance between environmental conservation and the citizens’ right to livelihood. The Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti urges the authorities to take immediate and appropriate measures to ensure that innocent citizens are not left destitute.
