Karnataka minister Khandre accuses Union government of selling HMT land to real estate companies

Hitting out at Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy on the HMT forest land issue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday accused the Center of illegally selling forest land to real estate companies.

“The latest order is to clear the forest land. There is no space for real estate deals. In fact, it is HMT who is squatting on the forest land. HMT is illegally using the forest land for commercial purposes,” Mr Khandre, who earlier held the Forest portfolio, told reporters in Bidar.

While the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Begaluru Urban district, through a 64 A inquiry under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, asked the HMT to hand over 430 acres, Mr. Kumaraswamy on Monday alleged that it was a move by the state government to convert the land into an estate.

“Karnataka Forest Act 1963 says once a forest always a forest. When a court declares it a forest, where is the option to convert it into a real estate business?” the minister asked, adding that the Supreme Court had also ruled that forest land would remain forest forever.

On Mr. Kumaraswamy’s claim that buildings now exist on the land, Mr. Khandre said the 280 acres of land has plantations and retains the character of a forest. “This is the property of seven crore Kannadigas and the affidavit submitted by the HMT in the Supreme Court puts the value of the land at ₹14,000 crore. I have announced the creation of a bio park on 444 acres, which will be a bigger lung space than Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. Let Mr. Kumaraswamy and VISL first revive big industries in NMDC. Kalyana Karnataka area to provide employment,” he said.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 0:21 AM IST