Bhatkal: A crucial Gram Sabha meeting held in Bailur granted a green signal to issue a Forest Rights Document (ROFR) recommendation for setting up a multi-specialty hospital by the Beena Vaidya Education Trust on 30 acres of forest land in Survey No. 600 on lease. The move, however, has stirred controversy, with some voices opposing the use of government land for private purposes.
The hospital project is spearheaded by Beena Vaidya Education Trust, chaired by District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya. According to local businessman Mastappa Naik, the Trust had earlier sought 40 acres of forest land for school buildings and playgrounds and is now seeking an additional 30 acres for the hospital, bringing the total to 70 acres.
Naik raised concerns about the intentions behind acquiring such a large tract of forest land, stating, “Minister Mankal Vaidya seems more interested in land acquisition than in public welfare. Government land should not be handed over to private entities for hospital construction.” Despite his demand to be allowed to speak further in the meeting, the chairperson denied him additional time.
Responding to these concerns, Panchayat President Krishna Naik and PDO Nagraj clarified that previous applications related to educational activities had already been disposed of. They explained that the current Gram Sabha was convened solely to record objections, if any, regarding granting the ROFR certificate for the proposed hospital. As no individual has claimed rights over the specific 30-acre portion sought by the Trust and no objections were officially filed, the meeting endorsed the proposal.
The Gram Panchayat also revealed that Bailur’s Survey No. 600 comprises 315 acres of forest land, with 52 encroachers having previously submitted claims for regularization. However, none of them pertains to the land requested by the Trust.
PDO Nagraj added that since 2013, a total of 243 applications were submitted for regularizing forest encroachments in Bailur, and 71 of these have been forwarded to sub-divisional officers for approval after preliminary scrutiny by the Village Forest Rights Committee.
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Girish provided an overview of the legal procedures and possibilities for leasing forest land to institutions. Meanwhile, local leaders including Panchayat members and village heads, such as Mohan and Eshwar Naik, urged authorities to clearly explain the potential benefits of the hospital to the villagers, including healthcare access and employment opportunities.
Given the significance of the Gram Sabha and the presence of political leaders and activists from across Bhatkal taluk, the administration deployed tight police security as a precautionary measure. Officers were stationed around Bailur Cross near the National Highway, and Murdeshwar PSI Hanumant Biradar was present at the venue to oversee security arrangements.
The meeting was attended by Tahsildar Nagendra Kolashetti, Panchayat Vice-President Kusuma Devadiga, Assistant Social Welfare Officer Jayalakshmi, and several panchayat members.