Bengaluru: In a major embarrassment for the Karnataka government, it has officially admitted to the Centre that large-scale illegal use of forest land took place during the implementation of the ambitious Yettinahole drinking water project, meant to supply water to drought-prone districts. Contrary to its repeated public claims over the past several years that only 0.04 hectares of forest land had been violated, the state has now acknowledged that as much as 267 acres (107 hectares) of forest land in Hassan district was used in clear violation of forest and environmental laws.
The admission is contained in an 84-page report submitted on December 11 by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Conservation) to the Deputy Director General (Forests) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The report confirms what environmental activists and opposition parties have long alleged that the Yettinahole project was pushed forward by bypassing statutory clearances and regulatory safeguards.
The scale of the violation is particularly alarming. The forest department had earlier submitted a proposal seeking approval to divert 432 acres of forest land in Hassan and Tumakuru districts for the construction of gravity canals under the project. However, even before any approval was granted, project works had already commenced, leading to the illegal use of 107 hectares of forest land in Hassan alone.
The Union environment ministry had taken a serious view of this lapse and directed the state to initiate action against officials responsible for the violations. The Forest Advisory Committee of the ministry rejected the proposal to divert 432 acres of forest land twice, citing procedural lapses and illegal pre-emptive construction. Despite this, the state government failed to halt work on the ground, raising serious questions about accountability and respect for the rule of law.
In a strongly worded observation on November 6, a high-level committee of the ministry pointed out that, although the illegal use of 107 hectares of forest land had been established, the Karnataka government had registered an FIR only for the alleged violation involving 0.04 hectares. The committee termed this selective action a “serious lapse” and directed the state forest department and the regional office of the ministry to submit a joint report.
Instead of assigning responsibility, the PCCF’s report attempts to dilute the issue. It claims that neither the Visvesvaraya Jala Nigam Limited (VJNL), which is executing the project, nor forest officials are directly responsible for the violations. The blame has been shifted to “unclear documentation”, a justification that critics argue is a convenient attempt to shield senior officials and political decision-makers from scrutiny.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time, as Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar is scheduled to meet Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav to discuss pending approvals for Yettinahole, Mekedatu, and Mahadayi projects. Shivakumar has already written twice to the Centre seeking clearance for the diversion of 432 acres of forest land for Yettinahole, even as the question of past violations remains unresolved.
The dispute over Idahalli Kaval land has further complicated matters. While the forest department has consistently maintained that the land falls under forest classification, the revenue department has disagreed. A joint survey involving the revenue, forest, and land records departments was initiated following a meeting chaired by Shivakumar on June 13, 2024. Though the survey reportedly concluded in January 2025, the findings have not been made public, adding to concerns over transparency.
