Green belt to be created on sea shore to check erosion'

Mangalore, October 2: Western Ghats Task Force Chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisara insisted on the inclusion of biodiversity component to in prevention of sea erosion project planned along Ullal.

Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, he said green belt will be created on the sea shore to check sea erosion by raising casurina plantations all along the backshore. The Casurina belts acts as a green wall to control erosion both by sea and wind. The pilot project which will be taken up to check sea erosion should include the components of environment and bio diversity. A discussion will be held with the officials concerned. There is a need to involve fishermen and the locals in the initiative.

Mr Ashisara also said that with a view to protect jackfruit varieties, 400 saplings of 26 varieties of jack fruits have been planted in the premises of Forest Research Centre in Sirsi.

Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, he said 26 varieties were collected from 120 villages of Malnad region. Another 2,000 saplings are getting ready. All the nursery of the forest department should create saplings of the jackfruit to be grown in the forest.

There is a need to promote jackfruit as a major fruit. Efforts are on to collect varieties of Midimaavu in the region, he added.

Hegde said, under Hasiru Kavacha scheme, planting activities has been carried out in 37 hectare in Kundapur forest division. One lakh lavancha and 17,000 Honne saplings have been planted. In Mangalore forest division, saplings have been planted besides the road for 13 kilometres adjacent to the sea. About 1.25 lakh lavancha saplings has been planted for seven kilometre stretch. As many as 12,750 Honne saplings have been planted. Tree Parks would come up at Pilikula in Dakshina Kannada and Badagubettu in Udupi. As part of the Hasiru Kavacha yojane, planting of saplings has commenced along the shore at Mogaveerapattana on Saturday, he added.

He said Devarakadu has been identified at Karanjeshwara in Bantwal and Panja in Sullia and measures have been taken to protect them. The state has 23 Medicinal Plants Conservation Area wherein measures have been taken to conserve the endemic medicinal plants.

There are 95 Forest Committees in Mangalore and Kundapur forest division, Hegde added.

The Task Force will organise cultural programmes including yakshagana and Tulu drama to create awareness on environment and bio-diversity among the people.