Ban plant extraction in Western Ghats

KARWAR: Western Ghat Task Force (WGTF) has urged the state government to ban the extraction of 15 endangered medicinal plant species in the Western Ghat Ranges, in addition to regulating the  extraction of other 24 species.WGTF Chairman Anant Hegde Asisara told Express here on Monday that a resolution to this effect was passed at a state-level consultation meeting in Bangalore recently, which was attended by  senior officials of the forest and other allied departments and scientists.Asisara said that the government should take immediate steps to prevent the rampant smuggling of  medicinal plants in Western Ghat Ranges. He complained that there was a lack of transparency from the authorities of Kaiga Nuclear Power Station.Ashisara said the NPCL should have conducted a public hearing before considering establishment of two new reactor units at Kaiga.