From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 25: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed officials to complete land acquisition process and start work on the comprehensive development of Anjanadri Hills at Kishkinda in Koppal district by next month.
The Chief Minister, who chaired a meeting to review the implementation of Anjanadri Hills Comprehensive Development project in Bengaluru on Saturday, asked the Deputy Commissioner of Koppal district to acquire the land through direct negotiation with the farmers or through the KIADB land acquisition process.
About 60 acres of land is required for the project, of which about 58 acres is private land.
In the first phase of the project, connecting roads to Anjanadri should be developed. Alternative roads too should be identified and developed, he said.
The Chief Minister wanted the officials to widen the State Highway from the National Highway to Gangavathi and directed the officials to prepare the detailed project report for developing parking and other amenities for the pilgrims at the base of the foothills.
Tender work for Ropeway in 2 months
Referring to the proposal for building a 430 metre ropeway for the Anjanadri Hills, Bommai instructed the Tourism department to complete the tender process for the works within two months.
He wanted the officials to create tourist amenities and parking facilities at the base of the ropeway.
"I will personally visit Anjanadri Hills before July 15 to inspect the progress of the works," Bommai said.
Ministers Anand Singh, Halappa Achar, Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna and others were present.
Officials asked to stay in forests for 15 days in a month
The Chief Minister later at another meeting instructed Forest Department officials from the rank of Principal Secretary to District Forest Officers to move out of their offices and stay in forests for 15 days in a month.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a function to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Karnataka State Forest Development Corporation Limited.
"Senior officials are rooted in Bengaluru. You are not coming out of your offices. Go to the forests, stay there for 15 days in a month. It will boost the morale of other personnel of the department. It will send the message that the senior officials are engaged in protecting the forests," he said.
Bommai wanted officials to work more vigorously to improve the forest cover in the state from the present 23% to at least 30% over the next 5 years.
He advocated the need for change in objectives of the Forest Development Corporation. There is no need to focus merely on profit-making, he said and mentioned that the focus should be more on extending the forest cover.
"We need not grow Eucalyptus for paper manufacturing. Stop planting Eucalyptus and Acacia trees which are not conducive for our ecological balance. Think about planting alternative species of plants and trees," he said.
Ecological budget
For the first time in the country, the State budget this year has an exclusive Ecological Budget segment which seeks to offset the ecological damage. About Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the Ecological Budget or the Green Budget to take up initiatives that would offset the ecological damage on an annual basis.
Ecological balance could be maintained if the initiative is sustained for the years ahead. The State government is ready to grant an additional Rs100 cr if the allocated Rs100 crore is utilised effectively, Bommai said.
He assured complete cooperation of the state government to improve the financial condition of the Corporation and called upon the officials to take up afforestation drives on a vast scale especially in arid areas and the Northern Karnataka region.
Sandal Tree cultivation
A special scheme has been formulated to encourage farmers to cultivate Sandal trees. It should enable the farmers to boost their income, Bommai said and asked the officials to simplify the regulations for Sandal cultivation.
He also emphasized the need for greater thrust on Agro Forestry. Stressing the importance of preserving the biodiversity in Western Ghats and increasing the green cover in the state, Bommai instructed the officials to prepare a Vision Document on Forest Development for the next 50 years.