Udupi: In a major announcement, the ruling Congress government has come out clear that it will not go ahead with the controversial Tiger Project and implementation of the recommendations of the Kasturi Rangan Report.
Speaking on these lines after inaugurating Saalumarada Thimmakka Vriksha Udyanavana on February 24 in Udupi, Minister for Forest and Ecology Ramanath Rai said that the decision has been taken to ensure that the people are not living in fear of displacements and loss of livelihood, specifically those living in villages around the Kudremukh region.
He further said that the government would recognise and honour those officers of the forest department who lost their lives in the line of duty, with the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal, for their outstanding contributions towards conservation of wildlife. The government has also doubled the amount of compensation to be given in the event of loss of live in an animal attack to Rs 5 lakhs. In the event of partial disability as the result of the attack, the victim is eligible to receive Rs 2 lakhs. Compensation for loss of crops due to wild animals has also been increased, informed the minister.
Vinay Kumar Sorake, former minister and Kaup MLA also spoke during the occasion and said that the forest department is being converted into a people-friendly department under the aegis of Ramanath Rai.
PCCF Brajesh Kumar, CCF Dr. Sanjay Bijur, DCFs Ganesh Bhat, Prabhakaran, Karikalan, ACF M M Acchhappa, RFO Clifford Lobo and others were present.
