Mangaluru : District in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday said the government will take steps to protect and preserve environment and forest with the active participation of local residents, including forest dwellers.

He was speaking after inaugurating Vrukshotsava 2019, organised by Forest Department in association with the district administration, Mangaluru City Corporation and other organisations here. Mr. Poojary said forest dwellers need to be given certain concessions as they solely depend on forest by-products. At the same time they should not be allowed to destroy forests. There is also need to sensitise the dwellers about the importance of conservation.

Mr. Poojary said the government has been keen on preserving and protecting environment and forests. Encouraging common people, namely Salumarada Timmakka, Sukri Bommagowda and others, who champion environment conservation with Padma Awards, shows the government’s commitment to conservation, he said.

Swami Ekagamyananda from Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mission said volunteers of Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan would plant two lakh tree saplings in the region. Mangaluru has lost most of its green cover following the cutting of trees for construction work. It is high time this cover is restored, he said. He urged authorities concerned to identify at least 50 locations in the city to undertake the special drive.

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath said a green urban project in which urban forests would be raised at select locations in the city would be launched. He said there is a need to make rainwater harvesting and sapling plantation compulsory.