Karnataka - Madikeri   

Farmers saw timber in protest

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, DEC. 19. Members of the Kodagu District Raitha Sangha, led by the former MLC A.K. Subbaiah, sawed timber at Kondangeri on Sunday in protest against the lack of permission to a landholder to saw logs for bona fide use for a long time.

M. Faizi from Kondangeri sought permission from the Forest Department to fell a tree for constructing a house several months ago. The department accorded permission for felling. But the official concerned did not give permission to saw the log. Mr. Faizi was told that he would have to pay a seigniorage value of Rs. 13,000 to the department for securing permission. But Mr. Faizi, who submitted another application, said he would pay only Rs. 500. The official served another notice, increasing the sum to Rs. 35,000. Following this, he approached the sangha. Hundreds of activists of the sangha gathered on the spot in the morning as Mr. Subbaiah made a start by sawing the log.

At a public meeting, Mr. Subbaiah alleged that the department is not following the rules. Farmers will continue such protests in future if the department harasses them. The tree felled is on paradeena land which means that the landholder is the owner of the land. Hence no valuation or other fee needs to be paid to the Forest Department.

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