Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (RD/MB)

Beltangady, Oct 28: None of the families of forest-dwellers in the area would be evicted, said P Manjunath Shetty, assistant conservator of forest, Moodbidri sub division.

He was speaking at the programme of introducing community forestry and first meeting of Kutloor village community forestry committee, jointly organized by Kutloor gram panchayat (GP) and the forest department earlier this week.

The government had no plans to evict the forest dwellers.  Moreover, it would not hinder the existing pathways running through the forest, electricity supply and other development works, besides procurement of forest produce by the forest-dwellers, he said.

P Dharanendra Kumar, former vice president of zilla panchayat and Naravi GP member, while presiding over the function, said that it was indeed commendable for the forest department to seek the assistance of natives in conserving the forest resources.  While in the past forest officers were arriving in the villages to book cases, in the changed cenario, the forest department sought to conserve the forest with the assistance of natives.  This would certainly contribute to good rains and harvest besides to curb environmental imbalance. 

Vice president Kemanu, members Sumitra Ramachandra Bhat, forest committee member Sheena Poojary, Sundari, revenue inspector Narayan Gowda, Subraya Nayak, Jeevandar Kumar and others were present, during the meeting chaired by Naravi GP president Chandravati.

Sanjay Hegde was elected as president of community forestry committee while Vasanti, Lingappa Malekudiya, Malati, Shridhar Poojary, Karunakar Achary, Devaki, Salim, Rajendra Bhat, Pushpa and Sundari were elected office-bearers on the occasion.

Venur range forest officer Raghav Patali welcomed.  Satish compered the programme.