Mangaluru: District In-Charge Minister, Forest and Environmental Minister Ramanath Rai inaugurated the world environment day celebration at Town Hall, Mangaluru on Friday.
                                  Forest and Environmental Minister Ramanath Rai lighting the lamp

Speaking on the occasion Rai said that this year world environmental day started with a motto of ‘our walk towards wildlife conservation’. Protecting the environment and wildlife is our responsibility. The future is in our hand, it is up to us how we build our future.

“We have failed to maintain the equilibrium of the environment, but it is not late yet. We can still fix it if we start to work towards replenishing the environment. Our small step should become foundation for big events,” he said that barging of wild animals into human settlements is an example of how human beings have meddled way beyond an acceptable level with the environment.

“Under wildlife conservation act we have saved many. Now Karnataka has highest number of tigers and elephants in India,” he added.

He continued saying that after the rejection of Gadgil report the government ordered for the Kasturi Rangan report. As people opposed the Gadgil report some people in Karnataka also opposed the implementation of Kasturi Rangan report. After making some changes in the report it has been sent to the Central Ministry of Forest and Environment, but it is yet to be implemented.

Chief Environmental Officer of Karnataka Pollution Control Board, S Nanda Kumar said that this year a lot of pro environmental programmes have been conducted by the department. Rs 2 crore have been sanctioned for Nirmal Bantwal scheme and about 90 percent of the scheme has already been implemented.

“Under Corporate Social Responsibility and green nurture programme many programmes have been conducted in several schools and colleges,” he said.

Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava and others were present.