'Forest land claims will be settled'

  • 05/12/2002

  • Deccan Herald (Bangalore)

Observing that neither the Union Government nor the Supreme court would come in the way of settling claims of people in forest land, the Centre today said it would act fast on such proposals sent in by the State governments with relevant records. Replying to a calling attention motion moved by former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa and others, Forest and Envionmetn Minister T R Ball said he approved conversion of forest villages into revenue villages in three districts of Madhya Pradesh involving 9940 hectare of forest land only last month and also regularized tribal encroachment of over 65,000 hectare in MP and Orissa.