JOIN USForest dept plans Devavana near Bettadapura
Talking to reporters during his visit to Bettadapura to inspect the site for the Devavana, the Minister said Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa would launch the Devavana project from Mysore in the first week of July.
“The forest department has plans to develop a Devavana in each and every district in state. The aim is to grow traditional trees like neem, jackfruit, flowers and medicinal plants. For long, there was plans to develop the Betadaura hill region. An action plan will be ready soon after consultations with the officials for the estimation of the project,” Vijayshankar remarked.
He said the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple on the foot of Bettadapura hill was visited by thousands of people across the state during annual jathra mahotsav during Deepawali occasion.
Temples
The foot of the hill hosts many temples which are a diety for the surrounding villages. The devotees take a 22 kilometer procession encircling the hill with torch in their hands during the festival. It attracts about 8000-10,000 devotees.
The Devavana would give an impetus to Bettadpura as pious place. The Bettadapura and surrounding villages have a rich tradition and heritage, he opined.
The hill region would also be developed with improved road connectivity and basic amenities like toilets, drinking water and the lodging facility.
A similar project is on the anvil for Gomatagiri near Hunsur, which has been a favourite destination for the jain community brethren in the region.
The officers have already been directed to remove the Nilgiri trees in Gomatagiri and plan for the planting of traditional and medicinal saplings. Gomatagiri would also have a Devavana park.
Later, the Minister held a meeting with the senior forest officers, including Chief Conservator of Forests B J Hosamath and others at Mallikarjunaswamy temple premises.
He asked the officials to come out with the action plan and the estimates for the development of Devavana in Bettadapura.