State Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar said here on Sunday that measures had been taken to provide clarity on the forest policy in the state so that the green cover is protected and improved by initiating a plan of action, including a ban on cultivation of eucalyptus and acacia trees in the identified areas.
Participating in a ‘meet-the-press’ programme at the Mysore District Journalists’ Association, he said, realising the need to check monoculture as a step towards maintaining ecological balance, a decision had been taken to ban, in a phased manner, the planting of eucalyptus trees keeping in mind the requirement of industries and fuel needs, in the evergreen forest area like the Western Ghats, Malnad and semi-Malnad areas where it was cultivated against forest regulations.
Similarly, acacia cultivation had been banned in Malnad and semi-Malnad areas.
After demarcating forest and non-forest areas, a decision had been taken to undertake plantation in non-forest areas like canal roads, bunds and achkat areas, which are lying barren over several years.
Under the ‘Agricultural Forest Development Scheme’to be launched this year, the department will take up nursery development to provide saplings needed by farmers to plant on their lands and offer them a three-year maintenance subsidy ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 20. In this connection, he will hold a meeting with the Irrigation Minister in Bangalore tomorrow. Planting of good trees in those lands will improve green cover and help conserve water, he said.
After clarity between nursery and plantation work of the department, it had been decided to bifurcate them into separate wings so that the two responsibilities were discharged distinctly throughout the year. The officers’ responsibility had been fixed as well.
The department’s control room, which was defunct for the last 15 years, had started functioning again. A ‘helpline’ was opened for complaints and suggestions from the public and an in-house magazine ‘Aranya Mitra’. The forest research wing was being modernised on the suggestions of six experts whose opinion was sought on the matter. A draft policy on regional forest plan to be drafted would be placed before the public for their suggestions.
Also, it had been decided to develop a park at each district headquarters on the model of the Bangalore’s famous Cubbon Park. Another decision taken was to develop ‘Deva Vana’ atop the hills considered sacrosant and where people can grow herbs and traditional trees and develop a nursery too. It will be launched by the chief minister atop Chamundi Hills shortly, Vijaya Shankar said.
The Lingambudi Lake in Mysore would be developed on the lines of the Karanji Tank and make it a tourist spot in three months. The Aloka heritage building at Yelwal, near Mysore, would be converted into a museum. Greenery would be revived around the government house premises.
While reiterating that the misuse of forest land would not be allowed, the minister asserted that the interests of the forest tribals would be protected, as they were a part of the forest and its conservation.
