An Alternative: TV Ramachandra says, “Protecting groves is important than farm loan waiver”

BENGALURU: For the past few decades, the IISc professor TV Ramachandra and his team have been doing extensive work for the status of the groves and have suggested measures to protect them. Groves are communally protected forest fragments which are significant religious connotations.

In an interview, Ramachandra had said that kans are being steadily encroached and it points to the negligence of decision makers for the damage. In the past, the groves were larger, each extending from a few acres to several hundred acres.

The reason for declining it is because the decision makers have not understood the fact that protection of sacred groves is linked to hydrology and food security. These community lands, which are a repository of native flora and undisturbed fauna, are meant to treated with the perspective of biodiversity as well.

Today, many grooves are under the administration of the revenue department and it has been found that many deputy commissioners don’t understand the importance of these groves. Inspections are not conducted and have very little data on the groves.

Kans play a critical role in ensuring security of food and water for the future generation. If the ruling government really wants to save farmers from committing suicide, they should first protect sacred groves. This is more important than the farm loan waiver.