Mangaluru : The incentives to farmers under Aranya Krishi Protsaha Yojane have been increased to Rs 100 from Rs 45 for each surviving sapling, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment B Ramanath Rai said.

He was speaking at ‘Forests for Water’ programme organised by the district administration, Forest Department, MCC, KSPCB and NSS unit of Mangalore University on Friday.

The minister said Aranya Krishi Protsaha Yojane has been introduced in a bid to increase tree cover. Saplings are provided to farmers at a concessional rate. With the government making it mandatory for big companies to spend at least 2% of their net profit on CSR activities for rejuvenation of lakes, several lakes in the state will be revived, he expressed hope.

There is a proposal to develop tree park in the name of Salumarada Thimmakka in each Assembly Constituency. The tree park will be developed under the theme. He said that not only planting, but attempts should be made to see that the plants grow, to increase the green cover.

Rai said that while the forest area in the state should have been 33%, the present area is only 22%. The increase in population has resulted in the destruction of forests. The public should join hands with the Forest department in conserving forest, he said. To conserve water sources, the state government has given thrust on Paschima Vahini project and fund has been earmarked for the purpose, he added.

Well-known poet K S Nissar Ahmed urged the citizens to conserve mineral and rock deposits along with the conservation of forest and water resources. An attempt is being made to destroy mineral and rock deposits in our surroundings. Once rocks and minerals are exhausted, it can not be recreated. As long as people fail to respect and love nature, the country can not develop, he said. There is a need to create awareness on conservation of nature for future living. The government should also rejuvenate lakes which are lifeline in plateau region.

Mangaluru Circle CCF Sanjay Bijoor said that Dakshina Kannada has already been experiencing 18% less rainfall during the year. The solution for water crisis lies in increase in forest cover. The trees help in percolating water, thus helping in increasing the groundwater. The Forest department is mulling over developing 140-km stretch saplings beside the roads in the district. About 7.82 lakh saplings have been developed to be distributed among farmers in the district. In a move to save trees in forests from being chopped for use as firewood, the Forest department will distribute 3,400 LPG connections to the households this year. About 1.86 lakh seed balls have been sown to increase the green cover in the district, he explained.

Aranya Mithra awards were conferred on Vincent Lancy Cutinha, Vijaya Manjunath Shetty, Srikanth Rao, P Sudhakar Bhat, Kiran Pinto and Rajeeva Rao on the occasion. Poet Nissar Ahmed, environmentalist Salumarada Thimmakka and actor Naveen D Padil were felicitated on the occasion. SDM College lecturer Dr B A Kumar Hegde delivered a talk on the occasion.