Mangaluru : The Cabinet has given its approval for appointment of 130 sportspersons in the Forest Department, said District In-charge and Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai.

“The Department has appointed 77 sportspersons, which has happened after many years. The process to appoint for more posts will be initiated soon,” said the minister, speaking after inaugurating the State-level Sports Tournament for PU Colleges, organised by PU Education Department, Bantara Yane Nadavara Mathru Sangha and Sri Ramakrishna P U College at Mangala Stadium in Mangaluru on Thursday.

“The State Forest Department will conduct an inter-state forest department sports tournament, which is an event that has not been conducted in the last 18 years. A meeting has been convened with Sports Minister K Abhayachandra Jain in this regard,” he added.

Teams from 31 districts – with 2,000 participants – conducted a march past on the occasion. Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fisheries Minister K Abhayachandra Jain received the guard of honour.

Speaking later, Jain said that the undivided Dakshina Kannada district has three stadiums with synthetic tracks, which is a unique case in the nation.

The sports torch was carried by sportspersons Vandana Shanbhag, Damodara Gowda, Purandar, Ashok K S, Abhishek Shetty, Shreema, Taranath Shetty, Pravin Shetty, Lalitha, Jayaram and others from Kadri Temple till Mangala Stadium. The torchbearers handed over the torch to Rai and the sports flame at the stadium was lit with the torch.

Mangaluru South legislator J R Lobo chaired the programme. Zilla Panchayat President Asha Thimmappa Gowda, Bantara Yane Nadavara Mathru Sangha President Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi and others were present.