Forest Minister K. Raju has said that the State government aimed protecting forest wealth with public participation.
Inaugurating the 40th anniversary celebration of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) at Thekkady on Friday, Mr. Raju said that only environment-friendly development works should be undertaken. The government was introducing various tourism projects at Thekkady.
Amenities
This included a tiger museum at Kumily, an amenity centre at the boat-landing station, low-emission buses from Kumily to boat-landing station, and projects for the welfare of local people who depend on tourism and forest protection activities.
The Minister, in reply to P.C. George MLA’s suggestion to eliminate excess wild animals, said there was no provision in the wildlife protection rules to kill excess animals. The State government was introducing a mechanism in consultation with the Central government to control wild animal menace. In some States, animals that constantly raised threat to human beings were controlled. This did not mean that the excess wild animals in the forests should be eliminated.
