Karnataka is a home to many parks and forest areas and these cannot be exploited for the advancement of human development, says chief minister.
Children are the safest bet against conserving nature and natural resources. Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa reiterated this at an event that marked the World Environment Day on Sunday.
"Children and students are always known to be the agents of change. Awareness is the need of the hour to protect our land and nature. Education on how to safeguard these is most important. Students who are in the high school level are the best bet when it comes to educating our future generations on the sensitivity of the issue," Yeddyurappa said while watering a tulsi plant on the occasion.
The event brought together children and youth with the express intent of spreading awareness about environmental issues. It was organised at Jnana Jyothi auditorium by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Karnataka Environment Laboratories Association, Environment Health and Safety Research and Development Centre, Bio-Diversity Board of Bangalore and various other organisations.
Pointing out that the state was home to a lot of parks and forest regions and areas like Western Ghats which were repositories of a rich variety of forests and medicinal plants and even larger number of species of animals and birds, the chief minister said all these could not be exploited for the advancement of human development.
"We have seen a lot of exploitation of land and natural resources in the districts because of rampant mining and the Centre has stopped exploitation in a way by carrying out an inspection process," Yeddyurappa said. He said the government would plan parks and take up afforestation drives in every taluk of the state.
The chief minister presented environment awards to several institutions and scientists who have been working tirelessly to conserve species of birds, insects, animals, plants, medicinal plants and natural elements.
The Pilikula Nisarga Dhama Society of Mangalore, Karnataka Rajya Vignana Parishat and Vignana Parishat Pariyavaran of Belgaum were among the institutions that were honoured.
NJ Devaraja Reddy of Chitradurga, Nandidurga Balugowda of Bangalore and AP Chandrashekhar of Puttur district were honoured with certificates for their work in breeding medicinal plants and various species of birds and animals and spreading awareness on conserving nature.
Essay and painting competitions for children also marked the event earlier on Thursday. The winners were presented awards by the chief minister. Lakshmi Shri received a special felicitation from Yeddyurappa, after she gifted him a portrait she had done of him.Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa inaugurated the World Environment Day by watering a tulsi plant at Jnana Jyothi auditorium on Sunday.
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