A primary environment care project with the cooperation of grama panchayats; Rs.259-crore ‘Krishi Raksha’ scheme to protect crops from wild animals; forest academy at Arippa; and ‘Urinunarvu Kadinunarvu’ for the development of Adivasi settlements are among the projects identified by the Forest Department for implementation under Mission 676. A Rs.15-crore project will be launched to conserve water in the catchment areas of rivers and forests during the summer.
Students will be deployed as ‘eco-cadets’ to create environmental awareness. Over 1,000 students will be trained during summer vacation in the wildlife sanctuaries of the State. ‘Budding birders’ project will be launched to promote bird and butterfly watching among students.
Unveiling the projects at a press conference here on Thursday, Minister for Forests and Transport Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the Rs.725-lakh project for Adivasis would benefit one lakh tribespeople.
District-level offices would be set up for environment protection under the Department of Environment and the first would come up in Kottayam. The Climate Change Research Institute would also start functioning in Kottayam and Rs.50 lakh had been provided for research activities.
Protection of sparrows at grain markets would be taken up across the State as the project in the capital city had been found to be successful. A zoo being set up with international standards in Thrissur would become functional in 2016, the Minister said.
Replying to questions on the Green Tribunal verdict on the Aranmula airport, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the government had not been blamed in the verdict. “Appropriate action will be taken, if needed, after seeking the help of legal experts and studying the full verdict that runs into 700-odd pages.”
