In a startling revelation, Karnataka's Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has disclosed that a colossal expanse of forest land, valued at over Rs 50,000 crore, is currently entangled in legal disputes across the state. The minister raised this critical issue during a high-level meeting held on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Minister's Grave Concern Over Wildlife Conflict
During the meeting, Minister Khandre expressed profound concern over the escalating human-wildlife conflict, citing a recent tragic incident. He highlighted the death of a person in the Kodagu district due to an elephant conflict, underscoring the immediate and grave threat such encounters pose to human lives.
The minister emphasized that protecting existing forest land has become an urgent necessity. He stated that safeguarding these natural habitats is a crucial step in broader efforts to prevent and mitigate deadly conflicts between wildlife and local communities. The need of the hour, according to Khandre, is to secure forest boundaries and resolve longstanding disputes that hinder conservation.
The Staggering Scale of Litigation
The core of the issue lies in the immense value and area of forest land under litigation. With disputes involving property worth more than fifty thousand crore rupees, the state's ability to manage and protect these ecological zones is severely compromised. Legal battles delay the implementation of vital conservation projects and anti-encroachment drives, leaving forests vulnerable.
This legal limbo not only has environmental repercussions but also fuels uncertainty for both the forest department and those involved in the cases. The minister's statement points to a systemic challenge where valuable forest resources are locked in courts instead of being actively preserved.
Path Forward: Protection as Prevention
Minister Eshwar Khandre's comments directly link the security of forest land to the prevention of wildlife conflict. When animals lose their natural corridors and habitats to encroachment or disputed land use, they are forced into human settlements, leading to tragic confrontations like the one in Kodagu.
The state government's focus is now expected to intensify on resolving these litigations and fortifying forest protection mechanisms. The goal is clear: to free these valuable lands from legal gridlock and ensure they serve their primary purpose as safe havens for wildlife, thereby reducing the risk to human life and agriculture on the forest fringes.
The meeting concluded with a resolve to address this challenge head-on, recognizing that the economic value of the land is far outweighed by its ecological and social value in preventing human-animal conflict.
