KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT

REPORT
RECONSTITUTED EXPERT COMMITTEE - I

S. NAGARAJA. IFS.
CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS

WORKING PLAN & CHAIRMAN

RECONSTITUTED EXPERT COMMITTEE – I

ARANYA BHAVANA, BANGALORE.

 INDEX

SL. No. Page No.

Particulars
1 Introduction
1

Review of Expert Committee I report and Affidavit filed by 2-3

2
Government of Karnataka

Deliberations of the Reconstituted Expert Committee-I

3 4-14

4 Findings of the Reconstituted Expert Committee-I

a)Details of Notified forest area of Karnataka

14-42
b) Details of Deemed forest area of Karnataka

c) Details of Notified forests and Deemed forest

in various circles and their divisions

5 Suggestions
43
Annexures

I Interim report of Expert Committee-I

44-52
II Summary of the report of Expert Committee-I
53-59

III Final report of Expert Committee-I 60-67

IV Affidavit of Government of Karnataka – 05.04.1997 68-84

V Affidavit of Government of Karnataka – 25.07.1997 85-90

VI Government Order of Reconstituted Expert Committee –I 91-93

Meeting Proceedings of Reconstituted Expert Committee –I

VII
held on 30.09.2002 94-96
VIII Proforma for area compilation
97-98
Meeting Proceedings of Reconstituted Expert Committee –I
IX held on 30.10.2002 99-100
I INTRODUCTION

The Government of Karnataka vide G.O.No.FEE.270.FGL.2002,

Bangalore, dt: 25/9/2002 has reconstituted the Expert Committee-I
and entrusted to verify the figures with regard to various categories of
forests identified and classify them into two broad categories: and to
furnish the details by village and survey number wise.
a. Notified Forests area as per the govt. records and
b. Deemed Forests
Further a time limit of two months was given to furnish the report.

1. The background is that as per the directions of the Hon‟ble

Supreme Court of India in their Interim Order dated: 12/2/96 in
the Writ Petition Civil No.202/1996 had ordered the State
Government to constitute Expert committee-I to

(i) Identify areas which, are forests irrespective of whether they

are so notified, recognised or classified under any law
irrespective of the ownership of the land of such forests.
(ii) Identify areas which were earlier forests but stand degraded,
denuded or cleared and
(iii) Identify areas covered by plantation trees belonging to the
Govt. and those belonging to private persons.

2. Accordingly the Government of Karnataka vide

G.O.No.FEE/(2)/FFM/97, Bangalore, dated: 10/1/97 had
constituted the Expert Committee I and directed to submit the
report. The Committee had submitted the interim report vide
letter No.A2/CCF/WP & E/C.CR.15./96-97, dated 17th
February 1997 and a final report dated 2/4/1997 with
summary of the report of the Expert Committee

(Annexure-I)

3. Based on this the Government of Karnataka had filed 2 Affidavits

dated 5.4.97 and 25.9.97
(Annexure II)
4. The Central Empowered Committee has observed that although the
State govt. had undertaken to complete the work of compiling
detailed information on forests within one year of filing the
Affidavit, it has not been able to do so. It was directed that this
work should be completed immediately on priority basis, accepting
the report for ii) and iii) above para-1,.
5. It is now the duty of the Reconstituted Expert Committee-I to
classify 46,32,615 Ha. of land into

a) Notified forests area as per Govt. records and

b) Deemed forests with Survey number wise, Village wise detail
II. Review of the Expert Committee-I report and Affidavit filed by Govt. of
Karnataka.
1. The Expert Committee-I had identified 35 categories of forest
areas as per records after deliberations, but reported only 17
categories totaling 45,89,506 Ha.

STATEMENT – I : DETAILS OF TOTAL AREAS RECORDED AS

‘FORESTS’ IDENTIFIED BY COMMITTEE-I.
Particulars Area in Ha.
Sl. No
1 Reserved Forests 2818905.63
2 Protected Forests 411533.54
3 Village Forest 9504.17
4 Private Forest 31228.90
5 C & D Class of Lands 203982.61
6 Wooded Areas 703309.67
7 Uruduve 2634.76
8 Bane Lands 107481.65
9 Coffee Saguvali Malai 3218.38
10 Devara Kadu 7747.76
11 Paisaris 55111.77
12 Kumki 6853.42
13 Amruth Mahal Kaval 22328.92
14 Mangroves 927.00
15 River Catchments & Erosion prone 3031.06
areas
16 Assessed Waste Land 197154.36
17 Inam Land 4552.40
Total 4589506.00

2.The Government of Karnataka had filed an Affidavit before the

Hon‟ble Supreme Court on 5/4/97 giving details of various forests
identified by the Expert Committee-I. It was submitted in the
Affidavit, that the areas identified by Expert committee-I were based
on the records and publications. It was further submitted that the
areas identified by the Expert Committee-I would be got verified in the
field in consultation with the Field Level Officers and this would be
completed within one year. The Expert Committee has identified 17
broad categories with the total extent of 45,89,506 Ha. Subsequently
the Government had filed another Affidavit on 25/7/1997 indicating
that there are some differences between extent of forest areas as per
the Government records and what has been given by the Expert
Committee – I in certain categories, excluding the 4 categories of lands
from the purview of the forests. They are bane lands, coffee Saguvali
Malais, paisaris and kumki lands. As per the Govt. records there are
14 broad categories covering a total extent of 46,32,615 Ha. that
includes unclassed forests to an extent of 5,23,100 Ha.
III. STATEMENT II: DETAILS OF TOTAL AREAS RECORDED AS
‘FORESTS’ AND OTHER AREAS, WHICH COULD BE CALLED AS
‘FORESTS’.

Sl. Particulars Area in Ha.

No.
1 Reserve Forest 2868996
2 Protected Forest 393072
3 Village Forest 12420
4 Private Forest 30842
5 Unclassed Forest 523100
6 C & D Class of lands transferred to forest 203983
Department from Revenue Department
7 Thickly wooded areas 368826
8 Uruduve (Village Wood Lots) 2635
9 Devara Kadu (Temple Forests) 7748
10 Amrith Mahal Kaval 22329
11 Mangroves 927
12 River Catchments and Erosion Prone 3031
Areas
13 Assessed Waste Land 197154
14 Inam Land in the possession of Govt. 4552
Total 4632615

1.When the broad categories of Expert Committee-I and the

Affidavit of the Govt. of Karnataka were analyzed it was found that
these categories were not based on any definite classification.
Whereas these categories are derived out of different groups namely:-

a) Notified forest area as per the Karnataka Forest

Act and Karnataka Forest Rules
b) Land Tenure Classification
c) Land capability classification and
d) Vegetation Classification

1.Further the information was obtained from available records

of the Forest Department and from the revenue records, as provided
by the local level Revenue Officers. These above said factors have all
possibility of duplicating the area figures.

2.The Government of Karnataka now desires to group these

categories into two broad groups namely: -

a) Notified forest areas as per the Govt. records and

b) Deemed Forests
IV DELIBERATIONS OF THE RECONSTITUTED EXPERT COMMITTEE-I

1.The Reconstituted Expert Committee met thrice on

16/9/2002, 30/9/2002 and 31/10/2002 deliberated on the subject
thoroughly. Further a workshop on the classification of forests and
compilation of forest area figures was conducted from 1/10/2002 to
9/10/2002. In the Work Shop all the Conservators of Forests –
(Territorial), Conservator of Forests – (Wild Life), Deputy Conservator
of Forests – (Wild Life), Deputy Conservator of Forests – (Territorial)
and Deputy Conservator of Forests – (Working Plans) with their
concerned Case Workers had participated.

2.The word “Forest” and “Forest Area” has been discussed in

detail and understood as follows: -

„Forest‟ has been defined in the Govt. Forest Act 1865 (Act of VII
of 1865) as “land covered with trees, brushwood or jungle, and
declared to be Government forest under the act.” But as a matter of
fact, it has been recognized that no legal definition is practicable or
use. The later acts like the Indian Forest Act, 1878 (Act VII of 1878),
the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (XVI of 1927), the Mysore Forest Act, 1900
(Act XI of 1900) and the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, (Act No.5 of
1964) have not defined the „forest‟. However, the forest has been
interpreted for the purpose of Chapter 5 of Karnataka Forest Act
1963, as „forest‟ includes any land containing trees and shrubs,
pasture lands and any land whatsoever which the State Government
may, by notification under this section, declare to be a forest.

3.Forest Areas as per Rule 2 (2) of the Karnataka Forest Rules

1969 includes all lands notified as forest under any law or
administered as forest whether State owned or private and whether
wooded or maintained as potential forest land;

4.Forest Conservation Act 1980 Rules and Guide lines.

The term „Forest land‟ mentioned in Section 2 of the Forest Act
refers to reserved forest; protected forest or any area recorded as
forest in the Government records. Lands that are under Section 4 of
the Act would also come within the purview of the Act.

(As per Paragraph 1.1 in the book “Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 Rules and
guidelines”, published by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and
Forests, New Delhi).

5.The Forest Conservation Act 1980 was enacted with a view to

check further deforestation which ultimately results in ecological
imbalance and therefore, the provisions made therein for the
conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith, must
apply to all forest irrespective of the nature of ownership or
classification thereof. The word „forest‟ must be understood according
to its dictionary meaning. This description covers all statutorily
recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or
otherwise for the purpose of Section 2 (1) of the Forest Conservation
Act. The term „forest land‟ occurring in Section 2 will not only include
„forest‟ as understood in dictionary sense, but also any areas recorded
as forest in the Govt. record irrespective of the ownership. The
provisions enacted in the Forest Conservation Act 1980 for the
conservation of forest and the matters connected therewith must
apply clearly to all forest so understood irrespective of the ownership
or classification thereof.

6. Further the deliberations of the Expert committee Meeting is

briefed as follows:
The first meeting of reconstituted Expert Committee – I was
called on 16/9/2002 based on the proceedings of the meeting held on
24/8/2002 in the chambers of the Principal Secretary, Forest, Ecology
and Environment, to discuss the report to be filed before the Central
Empowered Committee regarding the identification of forests as per
the Hon‟ble Supreme Court of India‟s definition in Order dt.
12/12/1996 recognising the urgency. In the meeting the proceedings
dt. 24/8/2002 was read out. The information provided by the
Conservator of Forests to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Working
Plans and Chairman, Expert Committee-I was discussed. The urgency
of compiling the information was stressed. It was brought to the
knowledge of the members that out of 37 forest divisions, for 31
divisions written Working Plans are available and they can make use
of the same. Further the Conservator of Forests, - (Territorial) are also
Controlling Officers for Wild Life Divisions therefore can incorporate
those information also. The Conservator of Forests, Wild Life and
Conservator of Forests, Project Tiger will be requested to furnish the
information of their jurisdiction to the Committee directly.

7.The 2nd meeting of reconstituted Expert Committee- I was held

on 30/9/2002. (Annexure-III)
The following decisions were taken:
i. To furnish survey number wise, village wise details to the
notified forest areas and also to the deemed forest areas with
notification number.
ii. It was agreed to conduct a Workshop on classification of forest
areas and compilation of area figures to deliberate on the forest
area figures already furnished by the Deputy Conservation of
Forests to the Expert Committee I. The figures available with
Working Plan Report, and the figures now available with Deputy
Conservator of Forests, should be compared and to arrive at
actual area figure with the village names and survey Number.

8. As desired by the Committee Members a Workshop was held

from 1.10.2002 to 9.10.2002 at Kadugodi. In the Workshop the
classification of forests within the meaning of the Supreme Court
W.P.No.202/95 was deliberated. Only three categories of forests have
been be identified i.e., notified forests, district forests and deemed
forests.
 The notified forests are those areas which have been notified as per
Karnataka Forest Act and Rules.

 The district forests are those areas which have been not notified in
any provisions of Karnataka Forest Act/Karnataka Forest Rules,
but must have been notified in other Acts like the Karnataka Land
Revenue Act, The Karnataka Land Reforms Act etc., and recognised
in any other law.

 The deemed forests are those areas, which have not been notified,
but recorded as forests in the Govt. records.

9.To collect area information a Proforma was developed.

(Annexure-IV)
10.The last meeting of the Committee was held on 30.10.2002,
and the following discussions were held.
(Annexure-V)

a) Deliberated on the out come of the Workshop held on 1/10/2002

to 9/10/2002. The details of village wise, sy.no wise areas were
collected from the Territorial Divisions and Wild Life Divisions of
the State. It was observed that there is a difference in areas
provided to the erstwhile Expert Committee-I and the figures
provided to the Annual Administration Report. And now the
figures provided with village name and survey number wise, does
not tally with any of the above said two reports. The reasons for
variation in figures were discussed in length, the members were
expressed unanimously that the figures from the annual
administration report, there are anomalies in the Annual
Administration Report, because whatever information furnished by
the Division is not reflected in the Annual Administration Report.
The Conservator of Forests for Communication and Information in
charge of preparing the annual administration report opined that
the Annual Administration Report is being submitted to the Govt.
since last 20 years with the same figures. And also explained that
there is a communication gap between the Statistics Wing of the
Department and the Divisions. So it is decided that the Annual
Administration Report figures with regard to the notified areas
needs to be updated.

b) The anomaly with reference to the figures provided to the earlier

Expert Committee-I and the figures provided now with village wise
and survey number wise is due to

i. Typographical error.
ii. Under reserve forests and protected forests, notifications have
been issued for the same area two or three times and there is
duplication in areas.

iii. Some C and D class land, which has been transferred to the
Department, has reserved forest and protected forest areas.
Hence it is reflected in both the categories, amounting to
duplication.

c) It was decided that the figures provided now with village name and
the survey numbers is to be taken as final. As this exercise of
collecting the area details with available other relevant records.
These figures are endorsed by the Conservator of Forests and the
concerned Deputy Conservator of Forests- territorial and working
Plan that it is true and correct to their best of knowledge.

d) The committee unanimously decided that the identification of

Forest areas is a continuos process. Any land which is identified
after the compilation of the state figure is finalised, shall be
reported to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to update the
information.

e) The Expert Committee-I included in its report the bane lands,

Coffee Saguvali Malai, Paisari and Kumki, but the Government had
deleted the above said areas while filing the Affidavit before the
Apex Court. The Committee Members deliberated on this issue and
suggested that the Coffee Saguvali Malai is a private land, but
other lands like bane, Paisari and kumki lands should be
considered as district forests, which has the features of the Forest.
All the members accepted it and resolved to be included in the
reconstituted Expert Committee-I report.

f) The re deemed and unredeemed are purely private lands. However,

the members pointed out that wherever the grantee has not put
unredeemed lands into proper use as per terms and conditions of
the grant, the same may be withdrawn and treated as Government
forest. Further the members are of the opinion that the thickly
wooded areas with Revenue Department should be handed over to
the Forest Department for protection and management. The
thickly wooded areas should not be diverted to non-forestry
purposes without bringing it to the notice of Forest Department
and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

g) The details of the area with regard to the district forests like bane,
Betta, Jamma Malai, Paisari, forest Perampoke, Kans, Kumki,
Assessed waste land, Kharab land, inam land, river Catchment and
sea erosion areas, thickly wooded areas, the C & D lands, and
unredeemed lands are with Revenue records of the district. The
 area information now furnished is collected by our field level forest
officers from local revenue officers. To make the information more
authenticated the area figures must be got confirmed from the High
Level Revenue Authorities. For this the Committee is of the opinion
that a High Level Officer at Principal Secretary should confirm at
Government Level.
h) The Committee has deliberated once again on forestland
classification. As the Committee has to group all categories into
two main categories i.e., Notified Forests: & Deemed Forests, it is
decided to club district Forest and Deemed forest and call it as
deemed Forest. The following classification is followed keeping in
view the G.O.No.FEE.270.FGL.2002, Bangalore dated 25.09.2002.

IV a) Notified Forests:

1.The Reserved forests are those forest areas, which are as per
Section 2 (14) of the Karnataka Forest Act. It means land notified in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of Karnataka Forest Act
1963. Also as per Section 17 of Karnataka Forest Act any forest
which has been notified as State Forest under the Section 17 of
Mysore Forest Act 1900, reserved forest under Section 20 Indian
Forest Act 1917, the Section 16 of Madras Forest Act 1882, Section 19
of Hyderabad Forest Act 1935, prior to the date on which this Act
comes into force shall be a reserved forest under the Karnataka Forest
Act 1963.

2.Village Forests:- As per Section 2 of the Karnataka Forest

Act 1963 Village Forest means any land notified as such in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3 Section 29 of the
Karnataka Forest Act.

3.Protected Forests:- As per Section 2 (13) in the Karnataka

Forest Act 1963 protected forests means any area at the disposal of
the Government which has been placed under special protection
under Clause 2, of Sub Section 2, of Section 33 are declared to be
protected forest under Section 35. As per the rule 31 in the
Karnataka Forest Rule 1969 the rules for management of district
forest shall mutatis-mutandis be applicable to protected forests and
Section 28 of Indian Forest Act they are called Devara Kadus,
Uruduves, others like Sandal Reserves, Teak Reserves, also declared
under Section 4 of Karnataka Forest Act 1963.
Minor forest as per Section 38 of the Karnataka Forest Act are
those forest in the State which were notified as minor forest under
Mysore Forest Act 1900 or as protected forests under Indian Forest
Act 1927 or Hyderabad Forest Act 1935. Also as per the Rule 27 (a) in
Karnataka Forest Rules any areas set apart for forest reserve under
Section 71 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act is a protected forest.
Besides this, any area transferred to the Forest Department under the
provisions of Sub Section 3 of Section 77 of the Karnataka Land
Revenue Act 1961 is also the protected forest.

4.Private Forests: - As per Section 36 and 39 of Karnataka

Forest Act 1963 any land notified by the State Government under this
Section for the Protection of Forests for special purposes in a Private
Forest.

IV b) DEEMED FORESTS:-

(1). District Forests: - As per Section 2 of Karnataka Forest Act

District forest includes the lands at the disposal of the Govt. not
included within the limits of any reserved or village forest nor assigned
in the survey settlement as free grazing ground or for any public or
communal purpose. Provided that it shall be competent for State
Government to modify the said assignment and constitute any such
land as reserved, village or district forest or de-reserve the same to
any other purpose it may deem fit.

As per the Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964, Chapter 7 Land

& Land Revenue, Section 67 Public roads, etc., and all lands which are not
the property of others belong to the Government: -

(1). All public roads, streets, lanes and paths, bridges, ditches,
dikes and fences, on or beside the same, the bed of the sea and of
harbours and creeks below high water mark and of rivers, streams,
nallas, lakes and tanks and all canals and water courses and all
standing and flowing waters and all lands wherever situated which are
not the property of individuals or of aggregate of persons legally
capable of holding property, and except in so far as any rights of such
persons may be established, in or over the same, and except as may
be otherwise provided in any law for the time being in force, and are
hereby declared to be with all rights in or over the same or
appertaining thereto, the property of the State Government.

Explanation: - In this section, „high water mark‟ means the highest

point reached by ordinary spring tides at any season of the year.

(2). Where any property or any right in or over any property is

claimed by or on behalf of the State Government or by any person as
against the State Government it shall be lawful for the Deputy
Commissioner, or a Survey Officer not lower in rank than a Deputy
Commissioner after formal inquiry to pass an order deciding the
claim.

(3). Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub-section (2)

or in appeal or revision therefrom may institute a civil suit contesting
the order within a period of one year from the date of such order and
the final decision in the civil suit shall be binding on the parties.
 Read with Sub Section (1) & (2) of Section 79 , of The Karnataka
Land Revenue Act 1964.

Section-79 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 - Regulation of supply

of firewood and timber for domestic or other purposes: -

(1). In any village or land in which the rights of the State

Government to the trees have been reserved under Section 75 subject
to certain privileges of the villagers or of certain classes of persons to
cut firewood or timber for domestic or other purposes and in any land
which has been set apart under Section 71 for forest reserve subject
to such privileges, and in all other cases in which such privileges exist
in respect of any alienated land, the exercise of the said privileges
shall be regulated by such rules as may be prescribed, or by orders to
be made either generally or in any particular instance by the Deputy
Commissioner or by such other officer as the State Government may
direct. In any case of dispute as to the mode or time of exercising
such privileges, the decision of the Deputy Commissioner or of such
officer, shall be final.

(2). Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) but

subject to such general or special orders that may be issued by the
State Government from time to time the privileges in respect of Kumki
lands, Bane lands and Kane lands in South Kanara District, Betta
lands and Hadi lands in North Kanara District, Kan and Soppina
Betta lands in Mysore Area, Jamma and Bane in Coorg District and
(Motashal wet lands) in Hyderabad Area shall continue.

IV. b. (2). As per the above, the districts forest are the lands such
as Betta Lands, Bane Lands, Jamma Malai, Forest Peramboke,
Paisari, Kans, Kumki, Amruth Mahal Kaval, Assessed Waste, Kharab,
Inam and Wet Lands,. Lakes, Kumki lands or the lands classified as
forests in revenue records. These are the privilege lands assigned for
various purposes at the time of survey settlement or assigned for
certain privileges with certain conditions.

IV. b. (3) The district forest, are basically the forest lands, but in
order to protect the reserve forests, certain area were delineated for
privileges, which were extended to the public and these lands have
characteristics of forests and falls within the meaning of forest as
defined in Section 2 of Forest Conservation Act and in the Order of
Hon‟ble Supreme Court dated: 12/12/96 in the W.P.No.202/95.
These district forests are notified by the Revenue Department, and
basically managed by Revenue Department. All pertinent records, are
with Deputy Commissioner‟s and management prescription is
supposed to be prepared by Deputy Commissioner for the privileges
provided to the public and it should be managed in such a way that
the land is still in the possession of the Government and to use, only
the produce by the public is the main intention of the Government.
The privileges are the part of concessions but not as right over the
land.

IV .b. (4) As these are located in the Western Ghats which are Eco-
sensitive and rich in bio-diversity. They have to be managed and
protected. With the advancement in agricultural improved practices
and General Scientific Management the privileges provided in the
forest lands needs to be reexamined.

IV .b. 5) The deemed forests are those of the land which is having
the characteristic of the forests, irrespective of the ownership and
gives the dictionary meaning, and enshrined in the Forest
Conservation Act, Section 2. There are the thickly wooded areas with
Revenue Department but not handed over to forest Department. The
thickly wooded areas recommended to be taken over by the
Government, to hand it over to the Karnataka Forest Department, but
not notified. The thickly wooded land distributed to grantees but not
cultivated. Such of the land can be treated as deemed forests. The C
& D class lands which is handed over to Forest Department can be
treated as deemed forests including the plantations raised in the
above said areas.

5.1) Proposed for Section 4 of Karnataka Forest Act. All these

areas where the proposals has been submitted to the govt.
under Section 4 of Karnataka Forest Act 1963 is treated as
District Forests.

5.2) Betta lands:-Betta lands are defined in the Karnataka Forest

Manual Chapter 10 as Forest privileges according to 131 F.
Basically Betta lands are protected forests which is assigned to
gardeners in the North Canara District of Karnataka with
certain conditions that they can graze their own cattle. Betta
lands in other districts is a district Forest.

5.3) Bane Lands:- Bane is also part of the protected forest land
granted for service of holding of wet land which is allotted to be
held free of revenue by cultivator for grazing and to supply leaf
manure and fire wood and small timber required for agricultural
and domestic purposes of the cultivator. So long as he
continues in possession of wet lands as per Section 79 (2) of
Karnataka Revenue Act 1964 also as per Appendix 3 of Coorg
Land Revenue Regulation Act 1899.

5.4) Jamma Malai:- Jamma Malai is also a protected forest. Jamma

Malai are basically given for the cultivation of Cardamom but do
not hold any right on Malais and these are treated as enclosure
within the reserve forest, according to Rule 141 of Karnataka
Forest Manual.
5.5) Forest Perampoke:- As per para 53 (93) of Karnataka Revenue
Survey Manual, Perampoke means rocky portions of land void of
earth, which cannot be ploughed if, and on which even grass
does not grow, and also land which in consequence of being
with thick jungle cannot be cultivated.
5.6) Paisari Lands:- As per para 53 (97) of Karnataka Revenue
Survey Manual, Paisari lands are all waste and forest lands
which are declared to be the property of the Government and
which have not be notified as protected forests or as forest
reserved.

5.7) Kans:- Kans are protected forests which is given for the privilege
of the public for Coffee, Pepper, Gum and Honey and also Green
Manure as per the Section 134(3) and 138(3) of Karnataka
Forest Manual.

5.8) Kumki:- Kumki is Government waste land, with certain

privileges to the villagers as per Chapter 10 of Karnataka Forest
Manual Rule 138.

5.9) Amrith Mahal Kaval:- Amrith Mahal Kaval is a district forest.

According to Section 33 of Karnataka Forest Rules 1969 the
Rules for Management of District Forests shall Mutatis –
Mutandis applied to Amrith Mahal Kaval which mean and
include the land assigned for the Govt. for the pasturage of
Amruth Mahal Cattle owned by the Government.

5.10) Assessed Waste Lands: - Assessed waste is a wasteland at the

disposal of the Govt. It has all the characteristics of district
forests.

5.11) Kharab Land: - Kharab land is a wasteland, non-aerable land

that is in possession of the Government.

5.12) Submerged Lands: - Lands, which has been submerged due to

hydroelectric project and other project, has been taken under
the Reserve Forest.

i) The mangroves is basically the areas, which are adjacent to

coastal land and in delta region, can be treated as district
forests and is Eco-sensitive in nature.
ii) Wet Lands:- The lands, which are marshy, and are in
possession of Government. It is Eco-sensitive in nature.

5.13) River Catchment and Sea Erosion Area: - The river

Catchment areas are the areas where planting has been done on
the ridges, and in the valleys, these lands are under the
possession of the Government. The sea erosion areas are those
 lands that lay all along the coastal area. Which are sea erosion
prone areas, which has been either planted or treated is to be
taken as Eco-sensitive area and it also has characteristics of
district forests.

5.14) Land classified as Forest/ Jungle in Revenue records:-

These are the lands classified in revenue records as forest or
jungle.
5.15) Inam Lands: - Inam lands are district forests it has all the
characteristics of the district forests and at the disposal of the
Government. As per Section 100 of Karnataka Forest Act 1964
and Section 119 of Karnataka Forest Manual, procedures have
been laid out to remove any forest produce.

5.16) Gomal Lands where the plantations have been raised:-

Gomal lands where plantations have been raised also thickly
wooded, so it has been included as deemed forests.

5.17) Thickly Wooded Areas of Revenue Department have not

handed over to KFD: - Thickly Wooded Areas are the lands
with the high canopy density, and is in possession of Revenue
Department. Also thickly wooded areas which has been noted
as forests or wooded areas in revenue records which has been
recommended to be taken over by the Karnataka Forest
Department and some of the thickly wooded areas which is
already distributed to the public but not felled any trees is taken
as deemed forests.

5.18) C & D Land with out any plantations but with KFD:- The C &
D class of lands which has been handed over to the Forest
Department in 1981. It has been afforested and some of the
lands continued to be under the Forest Department.

5.19) Thickly Wooded Areas noted as Forest in revenue records

and recommended to be taken over by the KFD:- These are
the lands which have been earmarked by the Revenue
Department to be taken over by the Karnataka Forest
Department.

5.20) Thickly Wooded lands distributed but not cultivated, not

felled any tree:-Thickly wooded lands which has been granted
but the grantee has not cultivated and not felled any tree such
of the lands recommended to take over by the KFD, because it is
Eco-sensitive in nature.

5.21) Water Bodies –

i) Lakes: - Some of the lakes which has been handed over by
the Government to the Forest Department for forest
 protection and management is also included as a deemed
forests.
ii) Tanks: - Certain tanks, which have been recommended by
the concerned authorities, are handed over to Karnataka
Forest Department for management purpose. The
differences between lakes and tanks is that lakes will have
perennial source of water, whereas in Tanks the water depth
is shallow and water retention is temporary.

5.22) Plantations:-The Government plantations are outside the

reserve forests, has been taken as deemed forests, The
Committee decided not to include Strip, Roadside, Canal bank
plantations, as they do not have the characteristics of forests.

5.23) Others:- Any other category of land other than mentioned

above.

Certain area which has been recommended by the Expert

Committee-I but has not been incorporated in this report.
The Expert Committee-I has collected information on private
lands as follows:-
Malki Lands : 7151 Ha.
Hadi Lands : 66752 Ha.
Un-redeemed Lands : 44127 Ha.
Redeemed Lands : 16187 Ha.
Total : 1,34,217 Ha.

These are basically owned by private persons and have the

characteristics of forests and have naturally grown shrubs and trees
of various canopy densities. The tree felling in these areas are been
controlled following the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976
(Karnataka Act No. 76 of 1976) and the Karnataka Preservation of
Tree Rules, 1977 provisions. The Forest Officers have not maintained
any records of these areas. Deputy Commissioner of the District is
issuing the ownership of these lands. The Village and survey number
wise details have not been incorporated in this report, due to paucity
of time. These details could be got from the Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests, Bangalore and incorporated at a later stage.

VI Findings of the Reconstituted Expert Committee:

1.The Committee has verified the figures regarding various

categories of forests identified by the Expert Committee I and
Government of Karnataka and with little/suitable modifications
classified the same into the two broad categories namely a) notified
forest area as per Government records and b) deemed forests. The
total area for the Karnataka State under each broad category is as
follows: -
 Sl.No. Category Extent/Area in Ha.
1 Notified forest area as per 3323855.00
Government records
2 Deemed Forests 994881.00
Grand Total 4318736.00

The area details of :

a. Notified forests and deemed forests of Karnataka

b. Notified forests and deemed forests of various forest circles and

their Divisions is given in the following tables I to 14

VII SUGGESTIONS: -

(1) Identification of Forestlands, is a continuous process. The

custodian of the forests be entrusted with the task of
identifying the forests whether so notified or otherwise and
report to the concerned authorities besides updating in their
own records.

(2) Thickly wooded areas irrespective of the ownership should

never be diverted/granted for non-forestry purposes.

(3) Regarding Deemed Forests, the land details are with the
Revenue Department, which should be involved in the
process of updating the records and delivering the
information to the Forest Department for Scientific
Management.

(4) Details of lands having characteristics of forests available

with the revenue authorities be made responsible to give the
information to the Forest Department.

(5) Management of all District Forests shall lie with the Forest
Department.

(6) Privileges granted to the villagers in respect of Betta, Bane

and Paisari lands land other district forests needs to be re
looked in the light of improved agricultural practices and
technological advancements.