Kappatgudda all set to become medicinal forest

HUBLI: Kappatgudda in Gadag district is all set to become a first medicinal forest area in South India. The forest, situated 60 km from Hubli and spread across 17,000 hectares of land boasts of rare medicinal plants which are hardly found anywhere in the country.
Responding to people's demand, the state government has come forward to preserve and nurture medicinal plants by transforming Kappatgudda into a `oushadi vana' or medicinal forest.It is also said that Kappatgudda is the only place where hundreds of medicinal plans are grown naturally. In 2001-02, the government had preserved medicinal plants grown on 100 hectares of land. Now, the entire area will be utilized to grow medicinal plants.
Forest minister C H Vijay Shankar said Kappatagudda has been declared a `oushadi vana,' as it has nearly 3,000 years of history. "Based on the report of the chief conservator of Dharwad, we will estimate the budget required for the development of the forest and the steps to be taken to preserve the medicinal plants. The report is expected to reach us within 15 days. Then we will make an official announcement on budget."