Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment R. Shankar visited the construction site of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Bus Stand here on Thursday after complaints that about 25 trees were being felled on the site.
Deputy Conservator of Forests S. Prabhakaran told Mr. Shankar that all efforts would be made to save as many trees as possible in the land allotted for the construction of the KSRTC Inter-District Bus Stand at Bannanje here.
If some trees had to be felled, the Forest Department would collect money from the KSRTC so that saplings could be planted elsewhere. The department would also try to plant about 25 saplings on border of the bus stand as it would be like a green belt around it within its compound wall.
This could be done after studying the construction plan of the KSRTC Bus Stand here. He would talk to the officers of the KSRTC on all the options available, Mr. Prabhakaran said. Mr. Shankar directed the officers to take action as per law.
Mr. Shankar then visited a private fish meal plant and inspected its functioning at Kota in Udupi district. Later, he visited Belapu village and planted a sapling there. Mr. Shankar then visited the thermal power plant at Yellur. Besides the officers of the Forest Department, officers of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) accompanied Mr. Shankar.