Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre said on Monday that the government will sanction ₹1 crore to Udupi Pejawar Mutt to develop greenery on two acres of land, near the smruti vana of Pejawar Mutt seer late Vishwesha Tirtha, at Neelavara in Udupi district.

Speaking after inaugurating the smruti vana developed in memory of Vishwesha Tirtha Swami, who passed away in 2019, the Minister said that the late seer was the epitome of progressive thinking. Thus he had won the hearts of many people across the country.

The late seer had contributed a lot for environment conservation. He had convinced Maoists to follow the path of peace and return to mainstream.

The Minister recalled that six months ago, a park developed in memory of Shivakumar Swamy of Siddaganga Mutt was inaugurated.

Western Ghats conservation

The Minister said that conserving the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, is the responsibility of all. The government and the Forest Department alone cannot protect it.

Mr. Khandre said after he became Forest Minister, 12,500 acres of forest encroachment, including 250 acres worth ₹10,000 crore, were cleared in Bengaluru. The government is fighting a legal battle to regain possession of forest land worth ₹50,000 crore.

The Minister said that the government has taken steps to develop a Vishwaguru Basavanna Biodiversity Park on 153 acres near Yelahanka, Bengaluru, so that it should not be difficult to breathe in Bengaluru city, and ₹50 crore have been allocated for the project, he said.

Elephants

The State has the highest number of elephants in the country with 6,395. Similarly, it is second in the number of tigers with 563 in the country. Along with that, human-elephant conflict has also increased. Therefore, he said that he is using the latest technology to reduce this conflict.

Vishwa Prasanna Tirtha, seer of Pejawar Mutt, said that the mutt is planning to develop a mahavana in memory of the late Vishwesha Tirtha Swamy for his birth centenary in 2031. If the government gives 1,000 acres of barren land the mutt will convert it into greenery, he said.

Responding to it, the Minister he will discuss the matter at the government level and will make an honest effort to get the land.