THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh will lay the foundation stone for the Indira Gandhi National Biodiversity Research Centre at Silent Valley in Palakkad district in December.
Forest Minister Benoy Viswom told The Hindu that the Union Minister had promised funding for the centre. An amount of Rs.5 crore would be sanctioned immediately and another Rs.5 crore at a later date. Mr. Ramesh had also promised to sanction Rs.1.24 crore for developing elephant corridors in the State. Assistance might also be forthcoming for the domestic elephants rehabilitation programme, he said.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests had initially rejected the project proposal for the national centre on biodiversity. It was cleared after Mr.Viswom took up the matter with the Union Minister who had earlier promised support for the project. Mr. Ramesh had also announced this at a meeting held in connection with the silver jubilee of the Silent Valley National Park.
The proposal is expected to gain importance against the background of the International Union for Conservation of Nature considering the Western Ghats for inscription as a world heritage site. The stone laying ceremony is likely to be held on December 28. Before that, the Union Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Forest Academy at Arippa in Thiruvananthapuram. The function is slated to be held on November 20. The existing training centre at Arippa is proposed to be developed as an academy of international standards under the project. Central assistance is expected for this project also.
Source: The Hindu, 3 -11-2010
Forest Minister Benoy Viswom told The Hindu that the Union Minister had promised funding for the centre. An amount of Rs.5 crore would be sanctioned immediately and another Rs.5 crore at a later date. Mr. Ramesh had also promised to sanction Rs.1.24 crore for developing elephant corridors in the State. Assistance might also be forthcoming for the domestic elephants rehabilitation programme, he said.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests had initially rejected the project proposal for the national centre on biodiversity. It was cleared after Mr.Viswom took up the matter with the Union Minister who had earlier promised support for the project. Mr. Ramesh had also announced this at a meeting held in connection with the silver jubilee of the Silent Valley National Park.
The proposal is expected to gain importance against the background of the International Union for Conservation of Nature considering the Western Ghats for inscription as a world heritage site. The stone laying ceremony is likely to be held on December 28. Before that, the Union Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Forest Academy at Arippa in Thiruvananthapuram. The function is slated to be held on November 20. The existing training centre at Arippa is proposed to be developed as an academy of international standards under the project. Central assistance is expected for this project also.
Source: The Hindu, 3 -11-2010
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