The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Rules to protect hills soon, says VS

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Rules to protect hills soon, says VS

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government will enact rules to check the plunder of hills and hillocks, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Friday.

Speaking after inaugurating ‘Garden and People-2009,’ a national seminar on botanical gardens organised by the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Palode, he stressed the need to protect hillocks from the point of view of environmental conservation.

“Protecting hillocks will also help conserve groundwater resources,” he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan called upon the Union government to ensure coordination between botanical gardens in the country to conserve biodiversity. “Making rules is not enough for the purpose,” he added. It needs action at the local level, the Chief Minister said.

Silent Valley

He pointed out that the declaration of Silent Valley as a National Park was the result of a mass movement involving common people. He highlighted the need for mass awareness programmes to enlist people’s support in conservation efforts.

Souvenir released

The Chief Minister released a souvenir and Annual Report of TBGRI by handing over copies to J. Arundathi, MLA.

TBGRI Director A. Subramoniam, Scientist S. Rajasekharan and Peringammala panchayat member D. Reghunathan Nair also spoke.

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