Govt. prepares ₹300 crore package for rehabilitating forest dwellers in Kudremukh National Park, says Eshwar Khandre

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said in Mangaluru on Friday that a ₹300-crore package has been prepared for rehabilitating forest dwellers in Kudremukh National Park (KNP) area. The package will be placed before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and after his concurrence it will be implemented, he said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day 12th Karnataka Bird Festival at Pilikula Nisargadhama, Mr. Khandre said 300 families have already been rehabilitated from KNP and 300 more are yet to be rehabilitated. A special rehabilitation package is ready. If these families are rehabilitated the man-animal conflict in the area will reduce, he said.

Joint inspection

A joint survey of deemed forests is presently on and within three months a report will be submitted to the Supreme Court on the same. The report will clearly mention which are government properties.

The department will provide protective equipment and special allowances to frontline forest department personnel, who are protecting the forest by risking their lives. For the untimely death of a permanent employee, compensation of ₹1 crore will be given, while ₹20 lakh will be paid to an outsourced employee, as per the department’s scheme devised in association with Bank of Baroda, he said.

District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Moodibidri MLA Umanath Kotian also spoke. MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta and MLC Ivan D’Souza were present.

350 take part

As many as 350 students and other bird lovers from across the State are taking part in the festival, organised by the Karnataka Eco Tourism Development Board. The participants will be divided into 10 teams and each team will be involved in a trail of 12 designated places, which includes the coast, wetlands, and estuaries. A prize will be given to the team that records good number of bird species.