‘Government should take steps to increase green cover’

‘25 per cent of Forest Department’s revenue should be earmarked for protection of the forest’

‘Biodiversity Management Committees should be set up in all gram panchayats’

SHIMOGA: Chairman of the Western Ghats Task Force Ananth Hegde Ashishar said here on Monday that the Government should take steps to increase green cover to 33 per cent of the geographical area in the next 10 years in order to achieve ecological security and ensure people’s livelihoods.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that the task force had made several interim recommendations to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in its report. He said that there was a need to design the programmes in association with the “Vriksharopana Abhiyana” to ensure the success of the afforestation programme.

He said that innovative programmes suggested to promote afforestation included cultivating medicinal plants, collection and value addition to non-timber forest products and farm products to promote generation of rural employment with the active involvement of the departments concerned.

Mr. Hegde suggested that the concept of village forest committees (VFCs) be extended to all taluks in the Western Ghats region to actively involve people in forest protection after imparting training and offering them financial incentives.

He said that at least 25 per cent of the revenue generated by the Forest Department be earmarked for the protection and restoration of the forest and other natural resources in the Western Ghat region.

Mr. Hegde said there was a need to formulate a policy which gave priority to local and tribal people while recruiting field staff of the Forest Department in the Western Ghats and coastal regions. He suggested that a well-trained forest squad equipped with the latest arms and ammunition and communication devices be kept at the disposal of every Deputy Conservator of Forests.

Committee

Mr. Hegde said that Biodiversity Management Committees should be set up in all gram panchayats in accordance with the provisions of the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2002).

The committees should be empowered to take up biodiversity conservation, enhancement and sustainable utilisation, he said.

Action plan

He suggested that a comprehensive pollution mitigation action plan be drawn up by involving all the stakeholders such as industries, Urban Development Department, pollution control board and panchayatraj institutions. He added that polluted places such as Bhadravati and Dandeli be considered for a special “Environment Protection Package”.

Mr. Hegde said that “Sahyadri Summit” should be organised in Bangalore.