Karnataka - Shimoga   

Andolana seeks `devara kadu' tag for forest

By Our Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA, NOV. 4. Vruksha Laksha Andolana, an environmental organisation that has undertaken a "Save Devera Kadu" campaign in the Malnad region, has claimed to have traced a unique devara kadu (sacred grove) at Gulehalli on the banks of the backwaters of the Sharavathy in Sagar taluk.

The andolana, which has sent a report to the Government on the devara kadu, has urged that Sri Ramalingeshwara Kanu be officially declared a devara kadu.

In a press release, B.H. Raghavendra of the andolana said a team of experts visited the forest recently and found hundreds of trees said to be over 300 years old.

Keshav H. Korse, botanist, said the protection of Ramalingeshwara Kanu was important as it represented several other devara kadu which were submerged in the Sharavathy backwaters near the Linganamakki Reservoir. Pathanjali, an Ayurvedic doctor, said the sacred grove was a treasure house of several medicinal plants, which were on the verge of extinction.

Ananth Hegde Ashishar, convener of the andolana, suggested that the forest be protected by fencing it.

Aneguli Subbarao, an environmentalist, called for the formation of a village forest committee to protect the devara kadu.

The release said Basavaraj, president of the Ramalingeshwar Temple Committee, and other local leaders, who extended their cooperation to the survey of the devara kadu, had offered to join the "Save Devara Kadu" campaign.

It noted that there were several devara kadu in Sagar and Sorab taluks of Shimoga district and Siddapur of Uttara Kannada district, which were in need of protection.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

KRRS, DSS activists to stage protest on Monday
Andolana seeks `devara kadu' tag for forest
Arecanut growers to set up marketing system

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu