BENGALURU: Forest, environment and ecology minister Eshwar B Khandre said on Friday that the state government is working towards declaring Apis cerana, an Asiatic honey bee, and Malabar tree toad, endemic to the Western Ghats, as its symbols.
Karnataka has already declared sandalwood, elephant, Indian Roller and Southern Birdwing as its symbols. Now, a proposal to declare Apis cerana and Malabar tree toad species as state symbols has been submitted by the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board. Declaration of these species as state symbols will help ensure their protection.
He was speaking at the International Biodiversity Day celebrations here. Five people were honoured on the occasion for their contribution to environment protection.
Khandre said the state has five biodiversity hotspots and heritage sites. Nallur tamarind grove, Gandhi Krishi Vignan Kendra, Ambaragudda in Sagar, Hogerekhan Giri in Kadur and Mamadapur reserve forest, which is now called as Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji Biodiversity Heritage Site in Vijayapura, are among them.
He said the forest department and the state government alone can’t ensure environment protection and afforestation, people should also actively participate in such programmes. They should plant saplings and protect them.
In the last three years, 11crore saplings have been planted and 12,204 acres of encroached land has been recovered. Legal action is on to recover forest land in many places, including Bengaluru. Steps have been taken to recover forest land worth Rs 50,000 crore, he said.
On the recent tragedy at the Dubare elephant camp in Kodagu, where a tourist from Tamil Nadu lost her life, Khandre said it should not have happened. Khandre said efforts are on to protect and recover elephant corridors and tiger habitats, encroachment of which is the main reason for the man-animal conflict. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has allocated Rs 300 crore in two phases to develop a biopark on 153 acres of land at Madappanahalli in Yelahanka, he added.
Anomalies in dept need to be corrected: Khandre
Bengaluru: Forest, environment and ecology minister Eshwar B Khandre on Friday admitted to the anomalies in the forest department and said that they need to be sought and set right. Pertaining to the death of the Tamil Nadu tourist in Dubare, Khandre said, people have been watching and bathing the elephants for a long time.
This was an accident, which could have been avoided. An inquiry into it is being done and soon action will be taken against the accused. He said he was not aware that Kanjan, a 26-year-old elephant, had been involved in previous accidents, especially during Dasara.
He added that the department had not fully informed him about the situation. “We will also discuss with the CM whether elephants should continue to be included in Dasara,” he said. He also said he was not aware of any Supreme Court or High Court orders on the matter.
He added that in some situations, the government is forced to take strict action, like in Hassan, where poor afforestation work, illegal tree felling, and illegal transportation of timber were reported. ens
