Board Chairman CM Stalin said that the government has taken several steps for the protection of forests and wildlife. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of the State Wildlife Board after the DMK government came to power and asserted that the state will always be in the forefront of wildlife conservation as well as protection of natural resources.
Addressing the meeting at the Secretariat, Mr. Stalin, who is the Chairman of the Board, said that his government has taken several measures to make Tamil Nadu a leading state in terms of forests and wildlife conservation. He highlighted measures like notification of Kaduvur Slender Loris Sanctuaryestablishment Country’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, and other initiatives.
Mr Stalin also released a book titled ‘Tamil Nadu Wildlife Wealth’, which lists measures taken by the state government for wildlife conservation. It also includes ‘Elephant Death Audit Framework’ which details about the death of elephants and measures to be followed [to protect them],
The CM also said that from this year, the state will implement biodiversity conservation and green projects as a response to climate change, with an outlay of Rs 920.56 crore with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Measures have also been taken to restore degraded forest land with assistance of about ₹481.14 crore from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mr Stalin said.
zoo authority meeting
Earlier in the day, the CM chaired the 21st meeting of the Governing Board of the Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu.
Speaking at the meeting, he asked the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, as well as the management of Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, to prepare a long-term plan integrating optimum and best use of natural resources. He also called for upgradation of facilities in zoological parks in the state.
‘Create awareness about wildlife conservation’
Mr. Stalin stressed the need to create awareness about wildlife conservation among the members of the public and zoological parks play an important role in this, he said. Apart from this, parks also play an important role in preventing extinction of wildlife species, and act as rehabilitation centers. [for animals]They said.
The CM lauded the Forest Department officials for the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur as part of the Management Effectiveness Assessment for Indian Zoos for 2022.
Mr Stalin pointed out that during the Covid-19 period, when the Anna Zoological Park was suffering without revenue, an amount of ₹6 crore was allocated for its maintenance. He said that the zoo receives an average of 20 lakh visitors annually.