The Centre would not act against the interests of Tamil Nadu in the Karnataka dam row, said Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar said here on Tuesday.
In response to a question on environment clearance for the dams proposed by the Karnataka, Mr. Javadekar said the Centre was for ensuring adequate water for all and would not allow any State to be discriminated against. His statement assumes significance as Karnataka requires the MoEF clearance to build any dam across the Cauvery.
In the city to launch the planting season of the Isha Project Green Hands, he said the Centre plans to launch a massive sapling planting drive on June 5 with public participation as it has come to realise that no project would be successful without public participation.
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The Centre would also launch a project to promote growth of fodder in forest and provide water trough so that the animals do not venture out of forest. Of late, natural resourceshad come under severe strain. This had led to people encroaching upon forest land, more so near the urban pockets where huts have sprung up . The strain on resources had also led to human-animal conflict.
Mr. Javadekar said the Centre also planned a drive to stop the use of banned plastic items.