Forest minister wants Jnanabharathi campus to be bioreserve site

Bengaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has suggested that his department draw up a proposal to declare the Jnanabharathi campus of Bangalore University a biodiversity heritage site.

The direction comes in the wake of opposition from conservationists to various development projects proposed within the campus — from the construction of new buildings for the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering to the allotment of land for the Central Board of Secondary Education’s regional centre and a yoga university.

In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Khandre referred to representations made by conservationists seeking to protect the campus' trees and rich biodiversity. “If it is possible to declare the campus a heritage site under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, submit a proposal,” the minister wrote.

Parashuramegowda of Parisarakkagi Navu welcomed the move. “We hope the minister’s (direction) will be implemented soon,” he added.