Realising that without the co-operation of the public, undertaking forest conservation and growing saplings will not be possible, the government has constituted Village Forest Committees under the Western Ghat Development Project with the co-operation of locals.

Thus it has given equal responsibility to the department and the locals for conserving the forest, said Deputy Conservator of Forest B P Ravi.

Speaking at the meeting on forest development project held at Koppa Aranya Samudaya Bhavana on Monday, he said under the Forest Development Agency of Western Ghat Project, village forest committees have been formed in Kelakuli, Yadadanti, Belagula, Barakanakatte, Brahmakodu, Hirekudige, Neralekoppa, Shimse, Tanudi, Bellur, Seethur, Mallandoor, Kanive, Aralikoppa, Bale, Nagalapura, Kanuru, Mahalgodu, Kalasheshwara, Horanadu, Melbilre, Kigga, Agalagandi, Bairadevaru, Kuluru, Badagabailu, Ravuru and Shettikoppa.

Chikmagalur Conservator of Forest Prabhakar Budihala said  under the Central grant which comes to gram panchayats, 10 per cent of the funds must be used for area development and the village committees must pressurise the panchayat to use the fund for forest conservation.

Village Forest Committee presidents said that the fallen trees must be distributed among the poor at concessional rates.

Seethur Village Forest Committee president Gopal Rao, Sadanand Gowda of Bellur and Honagaru Shivappa was felicitated for their contribution as committee presidents. Timmappa and ACF Mallik Fayasuddin were present.