'Centre should relax rules to promote industries in DK'

MoEF should review policies: Minister

Addressing reporters after holding an official meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Officer here on Monday, Vijayashankar said that the district has all the potential to establish SSIs, but the Central government’s policies impeding the growth. “I will urge the Centre to review the policies to promote SSI in Dakshina Kannada. A meeting of the officials and people’s representatives will be organised in Bangalore within 15 days to discuss the issue,” he added.

Vijayashankar said that a total of 400 acres of land in Chelur and Balepuni has already been acquired and the Revenue Department has been asked to hand over 186 acres in the district. Land will be distributed to unemployed to set up SSIs. At least 50 per cent of the land will be reserved for the local people, he said adding that a Committee headed by the District-in-Charge Minister J Krishna Palemar will be formed to identify beneficiaries.

Vijayashankar said that a Comphrehensive Forest Policy will be drafted soon to find solutions to all issues related to the forests. “The draft policy will be uploaded to the website of the department to invite suggestions and objections from the people. The policy will be in force within two months,” he added.

He said that the Forest Department officials have been asked to promote tourism in the respective region. “Nurseries to grow rare species medicinal plants and other herbs should be opened. Saplings of rare medicinal and other herbs should be made available for tourists,” he added.

On felling of trees for road widening, Vijayashankar said that the department has no objection in it. However, he said, “the local bodies should take initiatives to plant more saplings while felxling trees for road development.”

He further said that the officials of the Forest Department have been asked to prepare the list of endangered species of plants and animals. “I have asked officials to take necessary action to protect and preserve the endangered species of plants and animals their respective region,”