Back to the Wild: Karnataka Reclaims 300 Acres in Bukkapatna Sanctuary After Decades of Encroachment

Image Source: Learn UPSC

In a landmark conservation win, the Karnataka Forest Department has recovered 300 acres of encroached land in the Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary, Tumakuru district—marking one of the largest forest land recoveries in recent years. The reclaimed land, located in Survey No. 46 of Muthugadahalli Ambarpur, was originally notified as forest in 1926 by the Maharaja of Mysore.

Key Highlights:

Historic Recovery: Of the 300 acres, 209 acres were illegally encroached, while the rest had been leased to the Horticulture Department. The land had been used for farming coconut, cotton, arecanut, and cowpea.
Legal Backing: The recovery followed Supreme Court, Karnataka High Court, and Lokayukta directives, with proceedings under Section 64(A) of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963 initiated to cancel illegal grants and evict unauthorized occupants.
Ecological Restoration Begins: Forest officials have begun digging trenches and planting native species to restore the habitat for blackbucks and chinkaras, the sanctuary’s flagship species.
Sanctuary Significance: Notified in 2019, the 136.11 sq km sanctuary is home to blackbucks, fourhorned antelope, sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, and Indian wolves. It represents the southernmost range of the chinkara in India.
Minister’s Appeal: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre urged citizens and officials to respect forest boundaries, warning that no forest land can be diverted without due legal process.