Mangalore, Aug 3: 'Laksha Vruksha' – a state-level afforestation campaign jointly undertaken by Karnataka Forest Department, Mangalore, Karnataka Environment and Ecology Department, and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Mangalore, was inaugurated by Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology B Ramanath Rai at a programme at the Town Hall here on Saturday.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Mr Rai said that human beings in their daily lives were facilitating the destruction of forests. Instances such as increase in cutting of trees in forests are destroying the natural habitat of wild animals, which leads to decrease in their count. This will invariably affect humans in the future, he said, adding that conservation of forests was as important as food for human beings.
Stressing on the need for afforestation, said that the campaign should not remain as a symbolic one but should be people-friendly, wide-reaching and an effective one. It is necessary for all departments to join hands together along with associations and institutions in this endeavour. Priority should be given to conservation of forests and wildlife. People along with NGOs should also undertake plantation of saplings around their homes, he said.
He said that if people take initiatives and work towards conserving the forests and the environment, the work of the forest department would be made easier. Efforts should be made to plant saplings even in the dry plains which are suitable for that weather. If this is done with willpower, then it is possible to grow forests even in those regions, he said, adding that afforestation programmes would be held in all districts in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, leader of opposition in legislative council D V Sadananda Gowda said that the proposed mega thermal power plant at Niddodi would have far-reaching consequences, and should not be allowed to come up. All the leaders of the region across political parties have vehemently opposed it, he said.
Speaking on the menace of wild elephant attacks, he said that the government had failed in implementing projects without causing harm to the environment. People are encroaching forests, causing a threat to the natural habitat of wild animals such as elephants and other wildlife. When the natural balance between living organisms and nature is upsetted, it will cause alarming consequences, he said, adding that they had failed to provide alternate arrangements for wildlife.
A minimum of Rs 3 crores should be allotted to this cause, to provide rehabilitation to forest dwellers and arrange alternatives for elephants to move in forests, based on the model in Kenya where there was a well-planned solar fencing to prevent wild animals from venturing outside their perimeter in forests, he said.
There should be concern, interest and responsibility towards the environment and its conservation. Every individual should have to plant saplings and adopt them in this regard, he said.
On the occasion, 'Aranya Mitra Award' was given to forest and environment enthusiasts such as veteran B S Hasanabba, Madhav Ullal, Jeeth Milan Roche from Mangalore taluk along with Deputy Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust T S N Moorthy.
MLC Monappa Bhandary, DK Deputy Commissioner N Prakash, Managing Director of Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation Nagaraj and Conservator of Forests, Mangalore Circle S Shantappa, KSPCB Environment Officer N Lakshman, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mangalore O Pallaiah, Range Forest Officer Cliffard Lobo and several others were present during the programme.
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