Environment awards for 2015 announced

State submits suggestions to Kasturirangan report

Three individuals and three institutions have been selected for the state-level environment awards for the year 2015.

Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday, Forest Minister B Ramanath Rai said that each award carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh, and will be presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on June 5 at Kanteerava Indoor stadium on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Rai said C Lakshman of Bengaluru, R Parimala of Dharwad and S Harish Joshi of Mangaluru have been selected for the awards in the individual category in recognition of their contribution in environment conservation.

The institutions to be presented with the award are: Solid Waste Management Round Table, Bengaluru, Bantanooru Grama Forest Committee, Mudhol and Eco-development Committee, Dandeli. A two-day exhibition on protection of environment will be held at Kanteerva Stadium from June 5, Rai said.

The minister said the State government had already submitted its suggestions to the K Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) last month.

He said the State government had held consultation with stakeholders of ten districts and submitted its report on April 24. The Centre, after receiving reports from all states in the Western Ghats range would issue a draft notification and thereafter 90 days would be given to invite suggestion from the general public, the minister said.