Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Malabar Sanctuary to be set up this year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has said that the proposed Malabar Sanctuary will be declared this year.

In an official release issued in connection with the second anniversary of the government on Saturday, the Minister said that preliminary steps for declaration of the sanctuary had been completed. The sanctuary would ensure protection of forests near Peruvannamozhi.

The State, the Minister said, has submitted a project to the Centre for the protection of turtles and other marine species arriving on Kerala coast as part of their reproductive cycle. The project will cost Rs.6.65 crore.

A proposal for setting up a rehabilitation centre for elephants at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram district is under consideration. Clearance from the Central Zoo Authority has been sought for setting up a Lion Safari Park at Thamarassery in Kozhikode district for research purposes. A proposal for the take over of 131.5 hectares from private parties at Periya in Wayanad district for creating a corridor for movement of elephants is under consideration.

Mr. Viswom announced that the Forest Department proposed to develop a shelter belt on 77.50 hectares along the coast this year besides planting of mangrove species on 14.75 hectares. The compensatory afforestation in lieu of land diverted for development of pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala would also be undertaken this year. The Department had received 305 hectares of land (in Idukki district) for compensatory afforestation.

Projects such as production of reeds, bamboo and ratton (Rs.5.90 crore), protection of medicinal trees (Rs.23 crore) and protection of heritage plants at Chaliyam were under consideration.

He recalled that the department had carried out several programmes during the last two years for the protection of the forests, including declaration of a buffer zone for the Silent Valley. The area under forest cover had increased.

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