J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, said on Monday that efforts will be made to upgrade the status of Dr. Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama from “society” to an “authority”.

Speaking to presspersons at the nisargadhama after inspecting certain development projects on Monday, he said that upgrading the status would help to get an annual maintenance grant from the government.
In addition, it would be easy to get funds from the government and from agencies such as the Asian Development Bank under their schemes relating to environment.

If the status was to be upgraded, a Bill would have to be moved in the State Legislature and it should get the approval. “All efforts will be made to this effect. Now the nisargadhama gets no maintenance grants,” he said.
He said that according to sources, the nisargadhama is likely to get Rs. 1.44 crore from the Union government under the Lead Garden Project.

But the office is yet to receive any official communication to this effect. The project will aim support a garden of a 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 more infrastructure facilities at the garden, he said.

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 more plants in the garden.
The MLA said that efforts would be made to get recognition to the nisargadhama from any university in the country as a centre for research. It would enhance the status of the nisargadhama and help Ph.D. students to pursue research.

The Executive Director of the nisargadhama S A Prabhakara Sharma was present.
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• A bill will have to be moved in the State Legislature for the upgrade
• Nisargadhama is likely to get Rs. 1.44 crore from the Centre under the Lead Garden Project

Courtesy: The Hindu