Win for greens: MP govt junks Bhopal housing plan proposal that envisaged massive tree felling
Bhopal (PTI): The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday rejected a proposal floated under the New Bhopal "re-densification" plan which may have led to cutting of more than 27,000 trees in the state capital, citing environmental conservation, a decision coming amid protests by local residents and green activists.
In a message on "X" in Hindi, state Urban Administration and Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "Keeping in view environmental protection and trees present in the area of the New Bhopal Re-densification Plan, the presented proposal was rejected after thorough consideration and instructions were given to examine other alternative locations."
"Discussions should also be held with citizens and public representatives at the initial level for the new proposal," he added.
Under the re-densification plan, the state government wants to clear the existing constructions in the city's Shivaji Nagar area and develop the locality in a planned way.
Hundreds of Bhopal residents have joined hands to save more than 27,000 trees that they fear would be chopped as part of the mega project to make space for VVIP bungalows in the city.
For the past ten days, citizens, students and green activists have been campaigning against what they call the plan by the Madhya Pradesh Housing Board to construct bungalows for MLAs and bureaucrats by clearing trees at Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar, which are among green patches in the city.
Many of them, including women and an MLA of the ruling BJP, worshipped and clung to trees on Friday vowing to protect them.
MP Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Neeraj Mandloi had earlier clarified nothing will happen to the trees "immediately".
"It was a concept floated by the Housing Board before the Urban Development Minister. As of now, no approval has come. The government is sensitive towards protection of trees. There was no proposal to cut the trees as of now," he had asserted amid protests by citizens.
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Karnataka plans 100-acre aqua park to boost fishing sector
Bengaluru: Karnataka is planning to set up a 100-acre integrated aqua park aimed at promoting fishing. The proposed park will offer end-to-end facilities, including fish farming, storage facilities and sports fishing.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Sunday, a senior official from the Karnataka Fisheries Department said the aqua park is part of a concept introduced by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The idea is to develop hubs that support the entire fishing value chain from fish seed production and feed to processing and market access.
According to the plan, the aqua park will include nine major facilities like farming of fish food, generating of fish seeds, development of fish seeds, fish farming, cold processing units, development of ornamental fish for aquariums, well-equipped market, fish transport facilities, and sports fishing.
The fisheries department has shortlisted three locations for the project, Byndoor in Udupi, Malavalli in Mandya and Almatti in Bijapur. One of these locations will be finalised based on land availability, after which a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared and sent to the Union government for approval.
“We have received proposals for three locations. All of them have water bodies close by and hence there is a demand for fishing. However, space is the main criteria. If we are able to get 100 acres, we will go ahead and prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to be submitted to the central ministry,” DH quoted Dinesh Kumar Kaller, director, Karnataka fisheries department as saying.
At Malavalli, near Gaganachukki, around 75 acres of land has been identified and a request has been sent to the Revenue Department. The revenue department has said that the land belongs to the forest department and talks are on. We are also looking at other locations, Kaller reportedly said.
As per the report, at present, only 11 states have an aqua park approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Karnataka is confident that its proposal would also be accepted soon.
