Forest dept to ask banks not to sanction loans for encroached lands

In a novel approach to reduce forest encroachments, the Karnataka forest department, through divisional forest staffers, is approaching banks with a list of places where encroachment cases are high, urging them not to extend loans for construction.

- BOSKY KHANNA @Bengaluru

The staffers did this in two recent cases. They wrote to the State Bank of India, Koorigepalli branch, on June 6, with details of encroachers and writ petition numbers, requesting the bank branch manager not to clear the loans for the land in Srinivasapura taluk of Kolar district. Forest officials from the Srinivasapura forest zone stated in the letter that the land in Hosahudya village has been declared as part of the Ja