Bengaluru, 17 June,

State Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the BBMP would provide funds to the Forest Department if it comes forward to develop forest land in the City, similar to Cubbon Park and Lalbagh.

Speaking at the World Environment Day organised at the Palace Grounds, he said, "If the Forest department develops its land parcels as parks on the lines of Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, it would benefit the public and it will also save forest lands from encroachment.

"We all need to realise that land doesn't belong to us but we belong to Earth. We can't exploit mother earth ignoring the future. The government is committed protect our land, water and nature. We must realise that we are there only when Earth is there,” he said.

“We have instructed schools to form a Climate action club comprising 25 students in each school. We need to think about our planet as pollution is increasing rapidly,” he added.

Shivakumar, along with the State's Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, participated in the eco-walk.

"We want to encourage our children to save trees and water, ban plastic, and see that they have beautiful air. Bengaluru is known for its greenery and clean environment. So, I want this to be adopted by every house and every child," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also rode a bicycle back to Vidhana Soudha as part of the event.

Khandre said that the government was working on ending plastic pollution.