Task Force to meet tribals, forest dwellers

Ashisara moots for conserving rare herbs

Speaking to Deccan Herald, after taking art in a seminar for journalists in Muthodi Task Force Chairman Anantha Hegade Ashisara, said that the meet will aim at taking the facilities provided by various government departments directly to these two sections of the society.

“Apart from information on various government schemes, the meet will also aim at making the officials responsible and accountable too,” he said adding that he has personally visited villages in Kudremukh and Koppa forest areas to assess the situation existing there.

“Following this I have met the District in-charge Minister and convinced him to convene a special meeting in Kudremukh area with Deputy Commissioner in chair.

The special meeting will have Forest Committees taking part. All together the meet will look at the various problems existing in the region and try to resolve them,” he
said.

With regard to Hogarekhan hill, he said that the hill area was declared as ‘Bio Conservation Centre’ about a year ago. Steps were taken to prevent encroachment of land around 10 km of the area. Now there are plans to pool in Forest Committees to prevent encroachment of land and for conservation of Hogarekhan range, said Ashisara.

He informed that the government has been urged to conserve Amruth Mahal pastures in Chikmagalur, Tumkur and Hasan as done in the case of Basur Amruth Mahal.

Apart from this, he said that there are plans to conserve medicinal herbs found in
Mudigere, Koppa and Sringeri area, which will be implemented this year itself. Forest Department has earmarked Rs two crore for the project.

The Chairman said that the process of protecting hyper-sensitive regions like Meruthiparvatha and Hogarekhan, which lie outside the Reserve Forest.

 “The locals will be taken into confidence first and only then the project will be implemented,” he said.

Opining that Forest Minor Products Collection Act is an old and outdated one, Ashisara demanded suitable amendments to the Act.

 “The existing Act is leading to extinction of many valuable plant species. There is a need not only to protect these species but also to bring in an Act which will serve both purposes-fulfill the needs of the people and also help conservation of plant species,” he said.