Anil Kumble appointed Karnataka forest ambassador, no pay for passion role

India Today

27-05-2025

Former cricketer Anil Kumble has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the Karnataka Forest and Wildlife Department, Minister Eshwar B Khandre announced on Tuesday. The former Indian cricket captain, a native of Karnataka, is known not only for his achievements on the field but also for his longstanding commitment to wildlife conservation.Forest Minister Khandre stated that Kumble brings valuable experience to the role, having previously served as the vice-president of the Karnataka Wildlife Board. Equating Kumble's rare bowling feat of taking 10 wickets in a single Test innings to his zeal for wildlife conservation, Khandre said: 'Anil Kumble has an immense concern for wildlife. He loves forests. Hence, he has agreed to become an ambassador without receiving any remuneration.' advertisement'He is passionate about wildlife. In order to spread the message globally about protecting wildlife, he has agreed to become the ambassador of Karnataka Forest and Wildlife after we requested him,' the Minister said, adding Kumble, with his world-class fame, would help create awareness among the public about forest conservation, forest development, tree preservation, and wildlife conservation.
The announcement coincided with Khandre completing two years as Forest Minister. Marking the occasion, he shared a summary of the department's achievements and upcoming plans.In the last two years, the Minister said, around 8,848 'Vanamahotsavas' have been held, and approximately 8.5 crore saplings have been planted and nurtured across forest areas, roadsides, and government land. Between the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, a total of 1,20,975 hectares of plantations, 25 new arboretums, and 35 forests have been developed, he added.advertisementKhandre also noted that 3.70 crore saplings have been distributed to farmers to plant in their fields and other areas during the same period.He further announced plans to build a new major urban park in Bengaluru. 'Lalbagh in Bengaluru was built during the time of Hyder Ali, Cubbon Park was built during the British era. Even after a century, another large park has not been built in Bengaluru. Therefore, after I became the Forest Minister, the 153 acres of land that had been given to the Karnataka Forest Development Corporation for growing Nilgiri will be taken back by the Forest Department on June 2, and a park will be built there,' Khandre said.He added that the foundation stone for the new park at Madappanahalli, near Yelahanka, will be laid within two months.The Minister also expressed concern about long-standing encroachments on forest land in Bengaluru. Over the past two years, he said, the department had cleared encroachments on 128 acres of forest land, whose market value is estimated at around Rs 4,000 crore.He further alleged that the central government-owned Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) has been barred from selling 444 acres of forest land, worth about Rs 14,300 crore, to real estate developers and other entities. 'It has been decided to reclaim this forest land and preserve it as a park, and a legal battle has been launched. A petition is currently being heard in the Supreme Court,' he said.
IN THIS STORY#Karnataka