Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on Thursday directed his Ministry to issue orders waiving the ₹19.76 crore due to the Karnataka Forest Department from the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kidu, in Dakshina Kannada district, and also to continue the institute at the same place.
In a communique here, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, said this direction was issued after he met the Minister along with Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Minister gave the direction to his Ministry Secretary C.L. Mishra, asking him to get the orders issued from the Director-General of the Ministry. CPCRI should not be shifted from Kidu at any cost, the Minister said.
Mr. Kateel said he and Mr. Gowda told Mr. Javadekar about the historical background of the research institute and its importance to the region.
Attempts were being made from Karnataka Forest Department to take over the land leased to the institute and shift it to elsewhere, Mr. Kateel and Mr. Gowda told the Minister.
The institute began in 1973 from an office at Kukke Subrahmanya.
After obtaining 60 hectares of forest land from the State government on lease, it was shifted to Kidu. The institute also got an additional 60 hectares of agricultural land at the same place. Mr. Kateel and Mr. Gowda also told Mr. Javadekar that there are 95 species of coconut plants among 445 germ plasms.
CPCRI has coconut plantation on 95 hectares, areca nut on 7.5 hectares and coco on 2.5 hectares of land.
