Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy confronts Karnataka government over forest land dispute and development policies

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre in Bengaluru defended the state’s position, stating that the central public‑sector unit Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) illegally encroached on 280 acres of non‑diversified forest land and sold it to real‑estate firms. Khandre said the Supreme Court and the Forest Conservation Act keep the land as forest, noted the suspension of officials who sought de‑notification, and affirmed that no real‑estate activity can proceed.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy criticised the Karnataka Congress government, asserting that the state lags behind neighbours such as Andhra Pradesh in securing central projects. He warned that obstacles to mining and steel initiatives, including the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, could threaten thousands of jobs. Kumaraswamy also challenged the state’s tree‑planting claims and urged the government to cooperate with central development programmes.