Karnataka MLC Addresses Critical Land Boundary Issues in Coastal Districts
During the ongoing legislature session, Mangaluru MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur has brought to light a persistent and troubling issue affecting farmers in coastal Karnataka: the unclear demarcation between forest and revenue land boundaries. This long-standing problem has created significant legal and administrative hurdles for local agricultural communities.
Decades of Cultivation, Yet Official Records Remain Inaccurate
The MLC explained that in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, despite the government granting cultivation rights to farmers for land they have worked on for decades, official documents still partially classify agricultural areas near forests as forest land. This discrepancy arises from a lack of proper plotting and accurate boundary identification.
As a direct consequence, farmers face numerous severe challenges:
- Inability to fully utilize their legally owned land, even with title deeds in hand
- Denial of access to essential facilities including bank loans for agricultural development
- Exclusion from crop insurance programs and electricity connections
- Unnecessary legal disputes stemming from contradictory land records
Particularly affected are economically weaker beneficiaries applying for 94-C title deeds, who are being denied these documents due to objections from the forest department.
Proposed Solutions to Resolve Boundary Confusion
To address these systemic issues, MLC Puttur has called for several essential government actions:
- Conducting comprehensive joint boundary surveys involving all relevant departments
- Establishing district-level coordination committees to oversee resolution efforts
- Protecting land already approved under regularization schemes
- Halting legal actions against farmers caught in these boundary disputes
- Expediting boundary identification by appointing additional staff to forest department planning and surveying divisions
Recognition for Elephant Task Force Initiative
In a positive development, the MLC expressed appreciation on behalf of farmers and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh for the forest minister's establishment of an Elephant Task Force (ETF). This specialized force aims to control the elephant menace specifically in Puttur, Kadaba, Sullia, and Belthangady taluks, addressing a critical safety concern for agricultural communities in these regions.
The combined focus on resolving land boundary issues while implementing practical wildlife management solutions represents a comprehensive approach to supporting Karnataka's coastal farming communities.
