Night safari must go on, says Reddy

The statement comes a couple of days after newly-appointed minister and chief minister’s loyalist C H Vijayashankar ruled out night safari at Bannerghatta, as it would amount to invading animal space.

In a clear retort, Minister Janardhana Reddy who was speaking at a Tourism event on Monday, said he (Vijayashankar) had made that statement without knowledge or full information. Reddy said: “We have consulted experts on this, before announcing the idea. There will not be any noise. The lighting will be such that it will look like natural lighting and we will be using battery operated vehicles.” He further stated that the safari would be restricted to a limited area and they had the necessary clearance from the Zoo Authority of India to go ahead with the project.

“I will have a detailed discussion and make a presentation to the chief minister and the Forest Minister soon,” Reddy said. Earlier, speaking at the event celebrating Karnataka Tourism’s initiative to launch a green code for Tourism, the Minister was firm in his plans of launching the 180 crore night safari project.

“Only five other countries have night safaris. Introducing this in Bangalore will change the face of tourism in Karnataka,” he added.

He also said that they would be giving a 80 per cent subsidy for SC/ST students attending camps at Jungle Lodges Resorts and a 50 per cent subsidy for general merit students.

Reddy also announced Tourism Department’s plans of starting heli-tourism from next month. The Green Code of Ethics initiative to save bio-diversity is being implemented to ensure that the state tourism industry abides by nature-friendly activities and send a message that Karnataka is serious about conservation and preservation of nature.

MLA Roshan Baig, MP D B Chandregowda, environmentalist Yellappa Reddy and film maker Suresh Heblikar were present at the event.

Katta skips function

Though Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu was on the list of invited people, he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was his son Katta Jagadish present, though he is the corporator of the area (Vasanthnagar), where the event was held.