MYSORE: Stressing the need for a legislation to create environment fund, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) managing director and founder of Karnataka Makkala Party Ashok Kheny said he would donate the collection of one day toll fee to the Zoological Gardens of Mysore and Bannerghatta in Bangalore on ‘World Environment Day’ on June 5.
He was speaking after giving away scholarships to physically impaired children at the valedictory of Basava Jayanti Celebrations jointly organised by district administration, Kannada and Culture Department and other Lingayat institutions at Kalamandir.
He said the entire toll fee collected on World Environment Day would be used for adoption of animals in Zoological Gardens of Bannerghatta and Mysore and creating infrastructure for animals.
Kheny appealed to other developers like him to do the same.
“People’s representatives need to bring in a separate legislation for environment fund, by making donating of toll fee compulsory,” he said.
He claimed that his philosophy was to get involved and make changes for the future.
“If you believe in Basavanna, you should join us. That’s why I launched Karnataka Makkala Party, as we did not find any changes from the three major political parties,” he added.
Referring to the disabled children who received the scholarships, he said that despite their shortcomings, love will encourage disabled children to achieve greatness,” he said.
MLA Mahadeva Prasad said the principles of Basavanna were aimed at ensuring equality.
A similar concept exists in the Preamble of Constitution, but it has not been materialised due to the lack of commitment among rulers, he said.
MLC Siddaraju and former MLA M K Somashekar too spoke on the occasion. Suttur Seer Shivaratri Desikendra Swamiji, Mallikarjuna Swamiji and Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairman Nanjundaswamy were present on the occasion.