The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Project for conservation of sacred groves in State

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Friday, Jun 12, 2009
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Project for conservation of sacred groves in State

Special Correspondent

Government to give financial, technical support

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Forest Department is gearing up to launch a major project for protecting the groves in the State.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom told reporters here on Thursday that there were 1,500 groves popularly known as ‘kavu’ in the State. Though the department was keen on conserving the groves, it had a lot of financial constraints in launching a project on its own.

Hence, it was decided to identify the groves in each district and based on their extent and significance, the government would give financial and technical support for conservation. The State government had already submitted a detailed project for conserving the groves to the Centre and the latter had promised to sanction Rs.40 lakh for the project in the current year.

Those possessing the groves will have to submit an application and action plan for conservation.

A five-member expert panel will scrutinise the applications and select them for providing support.

The panel comprises Chief Forest Conservator of Bio-Diversity wing, the directors of Kerala Forest Research Institute and Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute or their representatives and environmentalists Shobeendran and E. Kunhikrishnan. Environmentalist Induchoodan will be a special invitee to the committee which will identify four or five applicants and recommend them to the government for aid.

It has been decided to implement the project in a transparent manner. The thrust will be on creating awareness about the conservation of such traditional environmental zones.

The Parambikulam Forest Development Agency is bringing out a book on Silent Valley, ‘Postcard from Silence,’ in association with the Forest Department. The sale proceeds of this book will be utilised for taking up welfare activities for tribal people living in the forests.

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