'Sustainable development key to save green'

Sustainable development followed by the conservation of bio-diversity goes a long way in saving the environment for future generation, said Director of Research, Gandhi Agricultural Research Centre, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Prof M A Shankar.

Addressing students at the Department of Studies in Environment, Manasagangotri, on account of World Environment Day celebrations, Shankar warned against the dangers in offing, if the exploitation of nature was not stopped.

Quoting reports, Shankar said, Bangalore was among the top 10 polluted cities in the country. If there was no check on carbon dioxide, danger to environment could be ruled out.

Calling upon people to take active part in the conservation of environment for the future, Shankar said a tree during its lifetime produced vast amounts of oxygen.

Citing the examples of environmental hazards, Shankar said, earlier, the underground water table was rich, with water at an easy reach. 

Now, there was no guarantee of reaching the water source even after drilling up to 1,000 feet. Prof S L Belagali from the department of studies in environmental science appealed to the government to give preference to the PG holders in the very subject at the time of recruitments to related fields.

At Zoo

Organic manure promises enhancement in keeping the fertility of agricultural lands and also its yield, said Joint Director of Agriculture department Mahanteshappa here on Thursday.

Addressing farmers at a workshop on vermi compost at Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in the city, Mahanteshappa said when chemical rich manure and fertilisers were resulting in the depletion of fertile rich lands, organic manure was the only answer.

Recounting the challenges in the field of food production during the time of green revolution, Mahanteshappa said owing to the intervention of mechanised farming, coupled by hybrid seeds and also manure rich in chemicals, fertility of lands had taken a beating.

It also lead to minimal dependency on the livestock, thus gradually losing the natural manure obtained from them lake cowdung and also its urine.

Now, there was an increasing awareness on using organic manure for better yield.