Speaking at the two-day Aranya Sahitya Sammelana held at the Forestry College, D’Souza said that the precious plant wealth of the Western Ghats are in peril with 60 to 70 proposals for setting up power generation units, factories, resorts and highway projects.
He cautioned that if the litterateurs do not oppose the move of the Government, in the next few years writers will have no subject to write about on the Malnad region.
Litterateur H S Venkatesha Murthy, who inaugurated the Sammelana by distributing saplings, said that the Government which is vehemently opposing the heritage status will be silent only after the total destruction of the region.
The Government has no concern for the conservation of forests, he added.
Environmentalist and journalist Nagesh Hegde, who presided over the conference, said while the Forest minister says that the State is against others having control over its property, it has already been exploited by vested interests. It is time to listen to the plaintive cry of the forests for protection, he added.
Western Ghats Task Force member Shantaram Siddi, Forestry College in-charge dean S K Patil and Deputy Conservator of Forests Yatishkumar were present at the conference.
