Forest Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah said that ban on plastic bottles and bags will be executed from January 1, 2023 in all national parks of the Forest Department.
Dr. Shah was addressing the closing ceremony of the Wildlife Week in the Vihar Vithika of the National Van Vihar Park on Friday.
Minister Dr. Shah said that water ATMs will be installed in all national parks to ensure affordable water for tourist.
Also, there will be a ban on carrying bags of food items etc. in the park to ensure environment protection.
Forest Minister Dr. Shah said that the state has got a unique gift in the form of cheetah after 72 years due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to restore the extinct cheetahs in the country.
He said that the Forest Department is countinously monitoring the conservation and protection of cheetahs from Africa.
He said that considering the tiger movement around Bhopal, making this area a sanctuary can be considered. For this people’s representatives, wildlife lovers and elites should come forward.
Zebras and Giraffes also to arrive
Forest Minister Dr. Shah said that after the arrival of cheetahs from Africa, efforts are now being made to bring zebras and giraffes to the Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal before January 26, 2023.
75 winning participants will go to National Park
Forest Minister Dr. Shah announced that arrangements would be made for 75 winners and runners-up participants of various competitions held in the State Level Wildlife Week to have free wildlife tour in National Park Bandhavgarh, Pench Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Forest Minister gave away prizes to the winners of photography-exhibition, painting, rangoli, school and college debate, mehndi, palm painting, fancy dress, face painting and teacher debate contest.
Two best short films focusing on the excellent work of forest management done by the forest guards were screened.
The Forest Minister extended awards to the filmmaker and forest guard Akash Sahu and Sanjay Namdeo.
Book, Folder and Poster Released
Forest Minister Dr. Shah released booklet ‘Van Vihar ke Vanya Prani Raju ki nazar se, Poster of ‘Madhya Pradesh State Bio-diversity Quiz-2022’ of Madhya Pradesh State Bio-diversity Board, book focusing on ‘Dragon Fly’ published jointly by Bio-diversity Board and World Nature Fund India, Dr. A.B. Shrivastava’s book “Manual for Post-mortem of Wild Cats” and quarterly magazine of Madhya Pradesh Vananchal Sandesh.
The Forest Minister also administered oath to all for the protection, promotion and safety of wildlife.
Van Vihar Director Padma Priya Balakrishnan presented the report of various programs and competitions held during the Wildlife Week.
The Officers-employees, participants and tourists were present along with Principal Secretary Forest Ashok Varnwal.
