1 day ago
Karnataka High Court Says No to Elephant Corridor Acquisition
The Karnataka High Court considered a plan to acquire land for housing.
The land is in an area used by elephants.
The court said elephant corridors are important parts of their homes, not just roads they walk through.
It said elephants should not lose their habitat whenever land is needed for construction.
The landowners also objected because they used the land for farming and horticulture.
They said it was their only source of income.
The judges said development and city growth are important.
However, they said these goals must be balanced with protecting nature and animals.
The Karnataka High Court said elephant corridors are essential parts of elephants’ natural habitat, not merely routes for passage.
The court said elephants cannot be treated as occupants without rights whose homes may be displaced at will.
Justices D K Singh and H Shanthi Bhushan stressed that development must balance urbanisation with environmental and species protection.
The case concerns land acquisition for housing in Anekal taluka of Bengaluru urban district.
Local landowners opposed the acquisition, saying the agricultural and horticultural lands were their only source of livelihood.
- Who
- The Karnataka High Court, Justices D K Singh and H Shanthi Bhushan, and landowners from villages in Anekal taluka.
- What
- The court considered objections to acquiring land for a housing project and emphasized protection of elephant corridors and habitat.
- Where
- Anekal taluka in Bengaluru urban district, near Bannerghatta National Park.
- When
- The Karnataka High Court recently made the observations; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Why
- Landowners challenged the acquisition because the land supported agriculture and horticulture, while environmental concerns involved an elephant corridor and the nearby eco-sensitive zone.
Environmental Conservation
Development and Land Acquisition
Use of elephant corridors
Environmental Conservation
The court said elephant corridors are essential parts of elephants’ natural habitat and existence, so elephants’ homes cannot be displaced at will.
Development and Land Acquisition
The proposed acquisition was connected to housing, reflecting the stated need to encourage development and urbanisation.
Impact on local livelihoods
Environmental Conservation
The landowners said the affected lands were used for agriculture and horticulture and were their only source of livelihood.
Development and Land Acquisition
The acquisition process was pursued for a housing project, although the article does not provide the authorities’ detailed response to the landowners’ objections.
Balancing public purpose and conservation
Environmental Conservation
The court held that no public purpose could supersede the objective of ecological conservation.
Development and Land Acquisition
The judges acknowledged that development and urbanisation are important, while stating that they must be balanced with environmental and species interests.
Key facts
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Judges
- D K Singh and H Shanthi Bhushan
- Project
- Housing development
- Location
- Anekal taluka, Bengaluru urban district
- Environmental concern
- Elephant corridors and habitat
- Landowners’ concern
- The land was used for agriculture and horticulture and was their only source of livelihood
- Protected area reference
- Bannerghatta National Park and its eco-sensitive zone
Quotes
Justices D K Singh and H Shanthi Bhushan
Karnataka High Court judges hearing the land-acquisition matter
“as important as it is to encourage development and urbanisation, the same must be done while balancing the interests of the environment and its species”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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