The 600-acre protected forest is located off Kanakapura Road

BENGALURU: An alleged encroachment attempt in the protected Turahalli forest area, a prominent lung space on the outskirts of Bengaluru, was thwarted on Tuesday night.

Around 8.15pm on Tuesday, Joseph Hoover, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, visited the forest to release a snake he had rescued. He noticed a JCB at work.

“Despite the status quo ordered by the Karnataka high court pertaining to the forest, a few people were trying to encroach upon the forest land,” Hoover claimed.

The JCB was at it for almost an hour till range forest officers, alerted by Hoover, rushed to the spot and stopped the work. “We got information from Hoover and immediately headed to the forest,” said Ravindra, assistant conservator of forests, Kaggalipura.

Ravindra alleged that the encroachment was being made at the behest of Muniraju, a former corporator and education entrepreneur who runs an international school. An FIR registered by the forest department against Muniraju and five others says the encroachers sought to build temporary shelters for shepherds.

The 600-acre protected forest is located off Kanakapura Road and has been facing the threat of encroachment by people living in the vicinity.

Encroachment attempts have been going on for over two years, Hoover said, adding that the forest, which is home to spotted deer, black-naped hare, reptiles and over 100 species of birds, is also under threat from those who visit for entertainment purposes.

Will take action: Official

Deepika Bajpai, deputy conservator of forests, Bengaluru Urban, said officials will initiate action against the offenders. Deputy range forest officer KN Rajappa said a few shepherds were grazing their sheep in the forest after seeking permission from Muniraju. “They would bring the animals to the forest every day. When we questioned the shepherds, they said they were living in abject poverty and Muniraju had granted them permission,” said Rajappa.

Muniraju denies claims

Muniraju, however, denied the allegations. “Who am I to grant permission to people to go a forest? I have no idea about it,” he said, adding that he had no link with the forest.

