Mangalore : State Forest Minister and DK District Minister Ramanatha Rai has said that all possible measures would be taken to solve the problem arising out of encroachment of forest lands, giving no scope for violation of SC ruling.

Speaking to reporters here, the minister said a meeting of MLAs of the affected areas has been convened at Bangalore on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Asked the stance of the state government on including Western Ghats in the World Heritage Site list of the UNESCO, he said the Western Ghats  has to be protected at any  cost.

He said he aims to make the forest department people friendly. On the razing of a wall of his chamber on Vidhana Saudha, Rai said it was a closed chapter. On Gutka ban, he said the government was committed to protect the interests of growers.