JOIN USCoastal green shield project may be launched soon
The project will spring into action from 2010-11 and will be in force for the next five years of period, he added.
Speaking to the media persons after inaugurating the one-day workshop on “Western Ghat Development, Protection of Coastal bio-diversity spices and sea erosion protection,” organised by Kundapur Forest Division, he said the project is envisioned with the active involvement of various government and non-governmental agencies like fisheries department, forest department, marine research groups, environment department, port department, the elected representatives and locals. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who is in charge of Forest portfolio has already sanctioned Rs 6 crore to take up the project. The project will emphasis on green shielding by encouraging the forest department and the locals for growing mangrove plantations across the sea shore rather than dumping boulders that has very short period of life, he said.
Carrying capacity
Ashisara said to protect the environment from industrialisation, the Task Force had taken up the study of carrying capacity of Uttar Kannada in December 2009 by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) through the Department of Biodiversity. The Task Force has plans to urge government to take measures facilitating the study on carrying capacity of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district in the second phase to restrict the industrialisation. The area is the land of eco-sensitive Western Ghat on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other side making the undivided district a gas chamber. A report will be submitted to the government in this regard, he added.
The Task Force that has been working on the project since last seven months has drafted papers and has intended to give the final shape to the project to implement it from next financial year. State government has declared Netrani Gudda near Bhatkal in Uttar Kannada as Heritage Site to protect and preserve the Island from training activities of the Sea Bird Naval base in Karwar. Netrani Gudda has huge coral deposits. This was acknowledged through research conducted by the scientists. It is also a bio-diversity hot spot that consists of several rare fish spices that calls for conservation. There is a need to conduct detailed study of this spot by making it as a study centre, he added.
Co-operation sought
Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, Ashisara said it has become inevitable to conserve the world’s one of the bio-diversity hot spot of Western Ghat and the marine wealth. This needs the active cooperation of the local fishermen, other stakeholders besides the involvement of government and non-governmental agencies. The coastal belt is prone to severe problems like increasing pollution due to industrialisation, political hurdles in the strict implementation of CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone), vast deforestation and excess exploitation of the resources both land and water in the name of development. Already several rare spices in the Western Ghat are on the verge of extinction. To make an attempt towards conserving these rare species, the Task Force has urged the government to set up bio-diversity park and gene bank, he said.
The Task Force has elaborate plans to take up range and hobli-level direct programmes in implementing the project. Plans are on to take note of the success stories of green wall experiment made in several places of the coastal belt, report submitted by the scientists team on the reason for the worst recent landslide occurred simultaneously in around 25 places in Karwar killing several persons, he added.
‘Karnataka vision’
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Conservator of Forest (Development) Dr Sundar Naik informed that as against the national forest policy of 33 per cent reservation of land for forest development, Karnataka at present has reserved only 29.21 per cent for the purpose. However, the State government has “Karnataka Vision 2020” aimed at reaching 33 per cent of forest development in the State. Accordingly the government is indulged in the effort to bring 80 to 85 hectares of land under forestation every year to reach the target, he added.
Conservator of Forest Mangalore Circle S Shantappa, Kudremukh DFO Prakash Netalker, Kundapur DFO O Palayya, Scientists V N Naik, Dr Subhashachandra and others were present.
DH News Service