The Karnataka government on Friday ruled out the possibility of rolling back the hike in entry fee to national parks, including the one in Bannerghatta.
The state government on Friday ruled out the possibility of rolling back the hike in entry fee to national parks, including the one in Bannerghatta. Minister for forests, CH Vijayshankar, told reporters that the admission and parking fees were hiked to compensate for losses incurred by the zoos.
“Out of the eight zoos in the state, only Bannerghatta National Park and the Mysore Zoo are doing well. Others are incurring losses,” the minister clarified, adding that schoolchildren would continue to enjoy the 50% concession in entry fee.
The minister also announced the government’s decision to increase compensation for families of those killed by wild animals. The announcement was made in the wake of several deaths caused by raiding elephants.
The ex-gratia relief has been increased to Rs5 lakh from Rs2 lakh to the family of those killed in man-animal conflict. “We have also raised the compensation for crops destroyed by wild animals,” the minister said. “Damages up to Rs25,000 would be compensated 100%. If the damage is beyond Rs25,000, the compensation would go up to a maximum of Rs1 lakh. The assessment will be done by local officials, and based on their report, we will release funds.”
The department of forests has also decided to present a cash award of Rs1 lakh to Salumarada Timmakka, in recognition of her efforts to preserve the green cover.
The minister said an amount of `5.17lakh has been deposited with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), for allotting a site to P Jayalakshmi, mother of IFS officer P Srinivas, killed in an encounter with forest brigand KM Veerappan.
No eucalyptus plantation Taking note of the ecological imbalance and depleting groundwater, the government has decided to ban cultivation of eucalyptus and acacia. “Groundwater has plummeted below 1,000 feet in parts of Kolar, due to indiscriminate cultivation of eucalyptus. There are instances when people planted eucalyptus and acacia in rain catchment areas of Malnad, causing depletion of groundwater,” Vijayshankar said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}