Addressing the National Forest Martyrs’ Day programme organised by the Forest Department in Dharwad on Friday, Mr. Vijay said the judiciary had a close association with forest conservation and that several judgments had been delivered to protect forests and the environment.
He urged the public to exercise caution while travelling through forest areas, particularly against activities that could trigger fires. Even a small spark, he said, could cause extensive damage to forests and wildlife.
Chief Conservator of Forests K.V. Vasanth Reddy said around 65 Forest Department personnel and officers in Karnataka had lost their lives in the past six decades while protecting forests and wildlife. About 17 personnel had died in the last five years, he said.
He recalled the sacrifices of forest personnel during anti-poaching and anti-Veerappan operations, forest-fire control and incidents involving human-wildlife conflict. He also referred to the deaths of A. Poojari of Dharwad in 1996 and M.B. Shirahatti of Gadag district in 2005 while serving in the field.
Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase said protecting nature was a responsibility shared by every citizen and government official. He said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated the vulnerability of human society to natural forces.
Floral tributes were paid to the martrys and a police guard of honour was presented during the programme. Assistant Conservators of Forests Sunita Nimbaragi and Sanjay Gupta also spoke on the occasion. Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya, senior civil judge and member-secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Allappa M. Badiger, president of the North Karnataka Retired Forest Officers’ Association V.M. Halagatti and senior officials and personnel of the Forest Department and people from different walks of life were present.
