The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : State must develop eco-tourism, says top Forest official

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

State must develop eco-tourism, says top Forest official

P Oppili

Constituency funds to be used for awareness programmes Constituency funds to be used for awareness programmes on flora and fauna

Director-General of Forests J.C. Kala. — Photo: S.Thanthoni

CHENNAI: The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment planned to utilise the funds from the MP and MLA area development funds to conduct awareness programmes on forests and wildlife, J.C. Kala, the new Director General of Forests, Government of India, said here on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kala said in Tamil Nadu, D. Jayakumar, the Law and Information Technology Minister, had already allocated funds from the MLA area development fund for raising saplings in his Royapuram constituency.

"We would like to replicate the Royapuram model in other parts of the country too." The Union Ministry would commend such initiatives with green awards.

The Union Ministry would request state governments to increase the tree cover by planting saplings on open lands. State forest departments would be asked to raise nurseries to supply quality saplings at subsidised rates. The saplings would be sold in kiosks that would be set up in petrol pumps, Mr. Kala said.

Tamil Nadu had great potential for eco-tourism that could be developed to benefit the local population.

The programme would be implemented with the help of locals, which would help in the conservation of wild flora and fauna. The Government could develop some of the reserved forest areas for organising eco-tourism programmes.

The Ministry would encourage and support the State Governments that use the remote sensing technology, which would enable better management of the forest resources and provide larger benefits to the society.

Housing facilities

Mr. Kala said efforts would be made to extend housing facilities for forest personnel.

They would be given more vehicles, improved communication network and arms and ammunition for protection of forest areas.

Mr. Kala, who belongs to the first 1968 batch of the Indian Forest Service, is the second officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre to hold the post of Director General of Forests at the Centre.

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