The Hindu : Karnataka News : ‘Proliferation of resorts in buffer zone will be checked'

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‘Proliferation of resorts in buffer zone will be checked'

Special Correspondent

Law does not permit them in buffer zones of national parks

Minister for Forests C.H. Vijayashankar addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: Minister for Forests C.H. Vijayashankar on Friday said that under no circumstances would the Government allow “illegal” resorts proliferate in buffer zone of national parks.

Participating in an interaction with presspersons organised by Bangalore Press Club and Reporters Guild here, he said there was no provision under the law to construct resorts in the buffer zone of National Parks and action would be initiated against those, who tried to circumvent the law.

Responding to a query on Tropical Wilderness and Wellness Village Private Limited clearing the land to construct resort and attempts to acquire land by two more private operators in Bachalli and Mangala villages abutting Bandipur National Park, he said that the Government had taken necessary action and asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to visit the spot and submit a report.

Attributing the shortage of surveyors in the department to demarcate the buffer zone and evicting the encroachers of forest land, he said that sincere attempts were being made to hire surveyors, identify the buffer zone of National Parks and reclaim the encroached forest land. However, the Department was bound by social commitment to support development project in public interest and support eco-tourism in the fringes of the forest area abiding by the provisions of law.

Detailing the programmes envisaged to protect the forest wealth he said that the process of drafting integrated Regional Forest Policy to strike a balance between development in forest area and conserving the ecology was on.

Priority would be given to develop forests in non-forest areas. Saplings would be distributed among farmers to grow in their fields Similarly greening of hills would be taken on a massive scale, he explained.

Cultivation of eucalyptus had been banned and eucalyptus saplings would be planted only in barren land and hillocks in coastal districts. There would be a “Tree Park” in every district on the lines of Cubbon Park of Bangalore and another four major parks in Bangalore city in an area of 250 acres. They would be named as Deva Vanas (holy parks) which would have trees, including valuable medicinal plants. A nursery would be raised there and saplings would be supplied to people, he said.

Noting that shortage of staff was a major hurdle in protecting the forests, he said the process of filling the vacancies of forest guards and foresters was on. Similarly, all attempts would be made to regularise services of watchers. Control Room on the lines of Police Department would be set up in forest areas to check poaching and to protest forest wealth and Help Desk would be made functional. Henceforth no licences would be given to saw mills.

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