H.D. Kote, March 5 -- Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy has said, H.D. Kote Taluk has 23 resorts, among which 20 are authorised and 3 are unauthorised, with instructions given to the latter to seek permission to run the business.

Speaking to media persons in the town yesterday, DC Reddy said, 20 resorts were built in the forest fringes adjacent to Kabini backwaters in 2017, even before they were declared as eco-sensitive zone. Three resorts came up afterwards in 2025. Hence, the management of those three resorts have been instructed to take adequate permission from Regional Commissioner's Committee. Till then, they are not authorised to run the business, the DC added.

Of the 20 resorts, six have been built encroaching upon the l...