Kerala - Thrissur   

Vana Samrakshana Samithis to expand activities

PHOTO: K. K. Najeeb

LENDING AN EAR: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan with Forest Minister Benoy Viswom at a convention of Vana Samrakshana Samithis in Thrissur on Monday.

Thrissur: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan has said that the activities of the Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) will be extended to 3 lakh hectares of forest area within the next two years.

Inaugurating a convention of the Samithis here on Monday held as part of the second anniversary celebrations of the LDF government, he said that protection of forests was not possible without the active participation of tribes who were living there.

“Destruction of forests is a bad turn to future generations. After the Left Democratic Front Government came to power, the forest cover has increased. About 66,000 families, including 22,000 tribal families, depend on the Samithis,” he said. Presiding over the function, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said the government would form a company to market products of the Samithis. “As a first step, a federation of the Samithis will be formed. Proper branding of forest products is being planned. Samithis need to be strengthened. They should take the initiative to prevent forest fires,” he said.

The Minister claimed that sandalwood theft in Marayur had been checked to an extent. “From rampant theft, the situation has changed to loss of a single tree in eight weeks. The State government will have no truck with the ‘forest and sandalwood mafia’. We consider it a credit that the ‘cannabis mafia’ sees us as its prime enemy,” he said.

Revenue Minster K. P. Rajendran, C. K. Chandrappan, MP, Therambil Ramakrishnan, B. D. Devassy, MLAs, District Panchayat president Ambadi Venu and Collector V. K. Baby were among those present on the occasion.

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