Pilikula Nisargadhama’s profile to be enhanced soon

Pilikula Nisargadhama’s profile to be enhanced soon

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 14, 2015: Speaking to media  at  Nisargadhama after inspecting projects on April 13,     MLA, Mangaluru City South, J R Lobo said  efforts are on  upgrade the status of Dr. Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama from a “society” to an “authority”.   He said that upgrading the status would help to get an annual maintenance grant from the government.

In addition, it would simplify matters to obtain  funds from the government as well as agencies such as the Asian Development Bank under their schemes concerning  environment.  For  upgrading, a Bill would have to be moved in the State Legislature and it be approved.  He  stated that every  effort  is on to this end, as now the nisargadhama gets no maintenance grants and it is needed to develop.

He informed that the nisargadhama is likely to get Rs. 1.44 crore from the Union government under the Lead Garden Project as per indications.   But official communication is awaited  the aim is to establish a garden of  national importance.

The funds would be used to develop and conserve the threatened plants of the Western Ghats at the botanical garden at the nisargadhama. It would also be used for creating better  infrastructure  at the garden. The MLA said that KIOCL has released Rs. 15.67 lakh from the Rs. 52 lakh it had agreed to provide the nisargadhama under the Kudremukh tree park project.   The three-year project, which is one year old now, aims to plant 2,500 plants of 40 species. In addition, 330 plants of 50 rare and endangered species have been planted under a Union government project.   He said that the New Mangaluru Port Trust would be approached for more funds for plants.

 MLA  Lobo said that efforts would be made to get recognition to the nisargadhama from a university in the country as a centre for research, as it  enhance the status of the nisargadhama and help Ph.D. students.  The Executive Director of the nisargadhama S A Prabhakara Sharma was also present  during the media interaction.