Chennai: Forest minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan urged all District forest officials and the public to avoid the use of plastics within forest biospheres. The officers, along with resorts and tourist centers, milestone temples, waterfalls must ensure awareness is created, he said, adding that signboards to reinforce it must be erected in the areas where tourists are allowed.
The minister participated in a one-day workshop organized for all district forest officers and deputy directors and encouraged them to enforce the plastic ban proactively.
A special focus of the workshop was the 4 1(A) notification that was discussed in the assembly recently. According to the notification, private land of over 2 hectares sold within forest areas could apply for approval from district committees even after years of the land being sold. Until now, the committee, consisting of the district collector and other officials could only permit the selling of land. Now, permission could also be sought for land already sold, after inspection.
Addressing the issue of forest fires, Dindigul Srinivasan said that people dwelling the forest areas should be trained to ensure the fire does not build up and become uncontrollable. Fire brigades within the forests must also be prepared at all times, he said, adding that security would be beefed up at warehouses storing sandalwood and redwood.
The minister also promised to implement all the schemes that funds have been allocated for within stipulated time.”32 MLAs raised questions regarding the forest department in the last assembly session. All concerns will be discussed and addressed soon,” he assured.
Dindigul Srinivasan also launched a book at the event. Titled ‘Sholas of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR): Biodiversity & Conservation,’ the book was authored by Selva Singh Richard, Assistant Professor, Madras Christian College and A Venkatesh, Additional Principal Conservator of Forests.
The Additional Principal Conservator of Forests of the Central Government was also present at the event.
