Moodabidri: A moot ‘Green Parliament’ with the aim of raising awareness on environmental conservation as well parliamentary proceedings among the students was organised by Kudremukh Wildlife Division of Karnataka Forest Department in collaboration with Rostrum Speakers’ Club at VS Acharya Auditorium of Alva’s Education Foundation Moodabidri here on Tuesday, October 5.
Students from seven colleges of Dakshina Kannada representing various portfolios of the Parliament discussed the issues relating to the environment ranging from biodiversity conservation, widening road, felling off trees to feeding birds, human-animal conflicts, usage of chemicals fertilizers. The Biological Diversity Bill 2002 was passed with three amendments in the Parliament. According to the bill, a National Bio-diversity Authority and State Biodiversity Board would be constituted.
Refuting the allegation by the leaders of the Opposition on artificial cultivation of medicinal plants will lead to a decline in the medicinal values; the Health Minister said that mass cultivation using tissue culture will help regenerate potency as well as the vast forest area will remain intact. He said only 25% of medicinal value will be lost in the process which is negligible.
Another leader said the measures have been taken to preserve Nagabana, Devara Kaadu, in their original forms instead of confining them only to ritualistic practice.
Feeding of wildlife became a hot topic in the session with many opining that feeding the birds, animals will do more damage than good like the irregular patterns of food consumption, loss of nutrition, weakening hunting ability that may amount to animal cruelty.
The Forest act must not be misused
Earlier inaugurating the formal programme, Dr Y. Bharath Shetty, Mangalore North MLA said that the government acts enacted with the sole purpose of preserving forest areas without obstructing the rights of forest-dwellers should not be misused at any cost.
P. Ruthren, Deputy Conservator of Forest, said that the responsible youth have a pivotal role to play in conserving the environment.
In his presidential address, Umanatha Kotian, Mulki-Moodabidri MLA said, the opposition and ruling party should always involve in business with the true concern of the people, rather than just to protect their interests.
Prakash Natelkar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangalore Circle and Dr M Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation were present.
