<p>The expansion plans of state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resort (JLR) took a hit on Thursday when the Karnataka High Court directed the eco-tourism promoter to obtain approval from the Centre for its project in Dubare reserve forest near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district, as per the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</p>.<p>Hearing a petition by P S Mohan, a resident of Kushalnagar, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Mohammed Nawaz directed the government to obtain approval for the JLR project from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).</p>.<p>The bench insisted that the state government (JLR) shall apply for the approval to run the eco-tourism activities in Dubare Reserve forest within a month, with the Centre under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The bench posted the matter for hearing on October 23.</p>.<p>The petitioner had argued before the court that JLR was running eco-friendly activities in the reserve forest without obtaining permission from the Centre, which is unlawful.</p>.<p>The forest has been damaged due to activities of the JLR and the same shall be stopped immediately, he said.</p>
<p>The expansion plans of state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resort (JLR) took a hit on Thursday when the Karnataka High Court directed the eco-tourism promoter to obtain approval from the Centre for its project in Dubare reserve forest near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district, as per the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</p>.<p>Hearing a petition by P S Mohan, a resident of Kushalnagar, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Mohammed Nawaz directed the government to obtain approval for the JLR project from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).</p>.<p>The bench insisted that the state government (JLR) shall apply for the approval to run the eco-tourism activities in Dubare Reserve forest within a month, with the Centre under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The bench posted the matter for hearing on October 23.</p>.<p>The petitioner had argued before the court that JLR was running eco-friendly activities in the reserve forest without obtaining permission from the Centre, which is unlawful.</p>.<p>The forest has been damaged due to activities of the JLR and the same shall be stopped immediately, he said.</p>