Drones to monitor animal movement in Nanmangalam

The first drone was launched by Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan in the reserve forest as part of the International Day of Biological Diversity celebrations in the city on Monday. 

A forest official told DTNext that funds to procure as many as five drones have been allocated. “It has been decided to purchase 5 drones, all indigenously developed, at a total cost of Rs 20 lakh in 2016–2017. The drones will be deployed after getting clearances from the Defence and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)”, read the State Forest Department Policy Note. 

The Minister also disbursed welfare measures to the tune of Rs 10.08 lakh under a tribal welfare scheme aimed at improving the livelihood of Irula tribes. 

Sreenivasan in his address on the occasion said, “Western Ghats is one of the top 25 biodiversity areas listed across the globe and the most important one for the state. 

The neighbouring states admit the fact that Tamil Nadu’s biological resources are rich in different aspects,” the Minister said. He added that the state was initiating measures to create biodiversity management committees (BMC) in every local body and that it was necessary to manage the resources and preserving them besides using them effectively.

“We have so far managed to form as many as 16 BMCs across the state. Efforts are on to increase the numbers,” the Minister said. 

Nasimuddin, Principal Secretary-Environment and Pollution Control, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry and Extension) H Basavaraju were also present on the occasion.