Bengaluru: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) failure to secure clearance for 444 acres of forest land off Jalahalli in north Bengaluru — despite repeated reminders from the forest department over seven years — has prompted the state govt to initiate steps to reclaim the land from what it terms “illegal possession”. Forest officials are gearing up to serve notice on IAF under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963 to recover the land.The issue escalated in March 2025 after the IAF authorities attempted to build a compound wall around the Peenya plantation in Jarakabande reserve forest, allegedly in violation of the rules. Visiting the site, forest minister Eshwar Khandre reviewed records confirming the land’s forest status, and directed officials to reclaim it and install departmental signage besides informing the same to the IAF officials at the site.Subsequently, IAF held multiple meetings with the forest department and the chief secretary, seeking to retain the land. The govt advised it to apply for clearance through the Centre’s Parivesh portal. However, with no approval secured even after a year, the state has decided to proceed with eviction. Forest officials said the IAF was using around 15 acres as a shooting range and had built a small office, while parts of the land were also used for jungle warfare and survival training.A joint survey in May 2025 found IAF occupying 427 acres of forest land across Jarakabande sandal reserve and Peenya plantation, out of a total of 844.2 acres. “Besides illegally occupying the forest land, IAF also sold 58.1 acres to BMRCL in Jan 2010. Considering the services of IAF, the chief secretary of Karnataka wrote to it in Sept 2018, stating that if IAF wishes to use the land, it can apply to the MoEFCC and secure clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Subsequently, in March 2025 also, the forest minister reminded IAF. But even after seven years, it has not submitted any appeal to denotify said land from the forest,” a senior forest official said.Khandre said: “The state govt cancelled the land allocation of 452.4 acre to IAF in Oct 2017. Considering national importance and in the interest of national security, we requested IAF to apply to the Centre and get necessary clearance to continue occupation of forest land under the Forest Act, 1980. Despite our reminders, IAF has violated the rules and hence, I have directed the additional chief secretary (forest) to serve notice... and develop this as a lung space for Bengaluru.”Story behind landThe erstwhile Mysore State, in May 1896, notified 599 acres in Bengaluru North taluk as ‘Peenya Jalahalli plantation’ and classified it as ‘govt plantation’ under the Mysore Forest Act, 1878, which governed forest and waste land in the Maharaja’s territory. The same land was later declared as ‘state forest’ in Jan 1901.In Aug 1932, an additional 444.1 acres of Jarakabande Kaval in Yelahanka hobli was notified as ‘sandalwood reserve’ under the Mysore Forest Act, 1900. Although the IAF has been in occupation of the land since World War II, its ownership has continued to lie with the forest department in official land and revenue records.In 1987, the state govt allotted 570.2 acres — including 452.4 acres of forest land — to IAF to establish the Jalahalli Airfield on an annual lease of Rs 50,000 per acre. This allotment was later challenged, and the court struck it down following the enactment of the Forest (Conservation) Act, reaffirming the forest department’s ownership.In March 1993, IAF exchanged 12.2 acres at Peenya plantation for 14.3 acres of revenue land in Challaghatta. Subsequently, in Jan 2010, it sold 50 acres to BMRCL despite lacking ownership rights over the land. After the cancellation of allotment in 2017, the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner mutated 357.2 acres in favour of the forest department, while 94.3 acres remain to be transferred.|
