Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jul 25: The state forest and DK district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai launched the ‘Forests for Water’ drive as part of Vanamahotsava celebrations, at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium in Udupi, on Monday, July 24.
The Minister in his speech stressed the importance of preserving forests and the need to sensitise citizens on afforestation programmes. "The source of water is usually born in forests, and every citizen should do their part to safeguard the environment," he said.
“NGOs, corporate industries, self-help groups and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala rural development organisation is supporting this green drive. This would help the future. This support will strengthen the forest department,” he added.
Rai informed, "If a farmer plants a sapling he will get Rs 30 per sapling and Rs 100 after three years. The primary objective of the Agroforestry promotion project is to encourage farming in a barren land. After implementing the Forest Protection Act during the period of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the non-forestation area has been reduced to 30,000 hectares, compared to before."
“According to environmental scientists, a state should have 33% of forest area, but we have 22%. People are encroaching land,” he regretted.
"However, the department is working towards saving forests and wildlife. Due to this, the wild life has increased, and Karnataka has the highest number of tigers, elephants, monkey (singalika) and leopards,” he said.
"The state government is strongly recommending different programmes to the Union government to help safeguard forests," Rai further continued.
The Minister said that the Forest Department has been organising a unique programme ‘Chinnara Vana Darshana’ for eighth and ninth class students.
‘Devi Vana’ and ‘Siri-Chandana Vana’ are other programmes undertaken by the department.
In the budget, nearly 50 tree parks were announced to be installed in the name of Salu Marada Thimmakka. Recently, the department installed a herbal plant park in Padumale.
"Nearly, 3500 beneficiaries got a gas connection in Udupi due to the efforts of the forest department, and 60,000 beneficiaries are in line," he said.
“A report by Forest Research Institute Dehradun reveals that the forest cover of Karnataka is increasing every year. So the public participation is essential to implement government plans successfully,” Rai concluded.
Udupi District-in-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said, “Forests for water is a small concept, but conveys a great message. Students should make use of this opportunity to learn from nature as well as safeguard it”.
“Shortage of water is becoming a reality. One needs to take measures to conserve water resources. Planting saplings are one of the best ways to save water,” he added.
Sanjay S Bijjur, RFO Mangaluru division delivering his keynote said, “Seven percent of rainfall has reduced in Udupi and 17% in Dakshina Kannada compared to the previous year. We must have 33% of forest land. Nearly 3,13,000 saplings are available in the department,” he informed.
Deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, CMC president Meenakshi Madhav Bannenje, taluk panchayat president Nalini Pradeep Rao, professor Balakrishna Muddodi, and Punati Sridhar were present among others.