Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said on Sunday that it was essential to give importance to planting saplings to check global warming and climate change. He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Koti Vruksha Abhiyan’ organised by the Department of Forests at the Town Hall, here.
Mr. Madhwaraj said that a small country such as Bhutan had 80 per cent of forest cover. There were now variations in the onset of monsoon and seasonal changes. This year, the onset of monsoon in the district was delayed. This had led to a drinking water problem in Udupi city. Hence, it was essential to make concerted efforts to increase tree cover in the country.
He said that the Forest Department was now in news almost regularly because of the increasing incidence of man-animal conflict. “Politicians always sided with the people because the latter fetched votes. But it is the Forest Department which took the side of the animals and in the process, bore the brunt of both people and politicians,” he said.
Stern stand
He recalled that sometime ago he wanted to get 500 metres of road asphalted at Jomlu Tirtha near Hebri. But the Hebri Range Forest Officer put his foot down.
“I threatened him with transfer. But he said ‘you transfer me, I will not permit it.’ I did not press for his transfer. This shows the calibre of personnel in the Forest Department. But, a small number of its personnel also indulge in wood smuggling,” Mr. Madhwaraj said.
The Forest Department should provide saplings to school students, it was only then they could reach the target of planting two lakh saplings in the district. The Department should drawn a plan for developing the Bhujanga Park in Udupi city, Mr. Madhwaraj said.
Sanjay Bijoor, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangaluru Circle, said that only the forests had the power to catch and percolate rain water. Conservation of forests was the responsibility of every citizen. The Tree Park at Badagabettu would be developed further, he said.
Five persons were felicitated for protection of environment on the occasion. They are Ajay Giri, K.P. Shetty, Aroor Manjunath Rao, Sammilan Shetty and Krishnamurthy Hebbar.
Forest Department officers and personnel Dinesh, Ramesh, Brijesh, Manju Ganiga, Suryanarayana, Devaraj Pana, were also felicitated for rendering good service on the occasion.
Meenakshi Bannanje, president of Udupi City Municipal Council, Veronica Carnelio, chairperson of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd., were present.
