Belagavi: Women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said the work on solar power project was stopped in Badal Ankalagi village following the illegal cutting of trees. Meanwhile, BJP workers and various farmer organisations staged a protest on the premises of DCF office, seeking action against the culprits involved in tree felling.The minister, on Friday said the cutting of trees for solar power generation under the PM KUSUM scheme was stopped for the time being. A case was registered against a person for burning the trees. The govt land was used for a govt project in coordination with the revenue and forest department. However, the work was stopped as soon as the allegations came to the minister’s attention. “I did not know about the handover of land for the scheme. When the news came in the media, I spoke to the DC,” she said.
Farmers’ organisations, along with BJP functionaries, staged a protest in front of the forest department on Friday, alleging that thousands of trees, including sandalwood trees, were cut down to install a solar plant for a private company in the village. Forest department did not take any action against the culprits. Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the forest minister and higher officials, including the DC.The department conducted an investigation, however, no action was taken against those constructing the solar plant so far. The site was a refuge for thousands of wild animals, including peacocks. Trees covering an area of over 50 acres were cut down in the forest. They lashed out, saying that the revenue officials were responsible for destroying the lush green forest.BJP fucntionaries Dhananjay Jadhav, Prem Chougula, Wajid Hirekudi, Basanagouda Patil, and farmers were present.
