Beltangady: Ramanath Rai meets Dr Heggade, moots urban eco park near Pilikula
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, May 24: State forest, ecology and environment minister, B Ramanath Rai, visited Dharmasthala on Thursday May 23 evening, and held discussions with Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade.
Speaking to reporters thereafter, Ramanath Rai revealed that plans are afoot to set up an urban eco park in a ten-acre plot near Pilikula, Mangalore. He said that building of this park is envisaged as a measure to create awareness among the next generation on the importance of environmental protection.
On the issue of desirability of setting up tiger sanctuaries, the minister said that a decision on this issue would be taken in consultation with union minister. He opined that taking timely and concrete decisions relating to environmental protection is very important and that protection of tigers is one of the issues which are inevitable.
The minister, giving his opinion on the issue of destruction of crops and other properties of people living near the border of forests by herds of elephants, informed that a report of experts is already under consideration, and that the government proposes to build elephant corridors so as to mitigate the hardships of these people. “My focus will be to make forest department into a people-friendly department,” he said.
During the discussions, Dr Veerendra Heggade suggested to the minister to give importance to plant saplings of trees which have the potential of growing well in plains and dry land.
D Harshendra Kumar, Beltangady block Congress president, K Harish Kumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee member, Rajashekhar Ajri, Bantwal taluk panchayat member, Padmashekahr Jain, Madhava Mave, Salethur panchayat president,Manjula Mave, district Congress vice president, D H Khader, Mayilappa Salian, and Satish Pilingallu, were present on the occasion.