Noted environmentalist Jagannath Bastia was conferred with the Biju Pattnaik award for wildlife on Friday at a meeting on the occasion of the World Wildlife Conservation Day. Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Rebecca Nayar presented the award to him.
Puri district Collector Arabind Agarwal announced that a zoo would be established along the Puri-Konark marine drive road. For that, 200 acres of revenue land would be provided.
Divisional Forest Officer Chittaranjan Mishra said a blackbuck breeding center would be established in 20 acres of land recovered from the possession of Banamber Maharana alias Bana Baba.
The Regional Chief Conservator of Forests welcomed the proposal and assured all possible help for these two projects. He insisted on driving out the encroachers from the forestland.