SHIMOGA: The Western Ghats Task Force has submitted 42 recommendations to the government to protect and conserve the forest and bio-diversity in the Western Ghats.
Task Force president Ananth Hegde Ashisara told reporters at the DC’s office on Monday that the Chief Minister has ordered the implementation of some recommendations and sanctioned Rs 2 crore to form village forest committees and to conserve the Devarakadus in the state. The CM has made it clear that there was no provision for mining in Malnad region, he informed. The Task Force has urged the government to take steps to increase the green cover in a phased manner in ten years with the help of civil societies.
Innovative programmes like medicinal plant cultivation, collection and value addition of non-timber forest products, inland fisheries, value addition to farm products to promote rural employment generation, he added. It was also recommended to frame a policy to give back at least 25 per cent revenue generated from the Forest Department in the Western Ghats for forest protection and restoration works.
