PALAKKAD: The government has decided to raise the compensation to the dependants of the people killed in attacks by wild elephants from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, according to Forest Minister Benoy Viswom. The Minister said this while speaking to mediapersons at Olavakkode on Friday. Ganja plantat ions The Forest Department will take effective measures to curb ganja cultivation in the interior areas of the forest, the minister said. In areas where inter-state borders are involved, the Forest Department officials would consult their counterparts of the neighbouring states and co-ordinate their actions to rein in on the ganja cultivators. He said that raids were conducted recently in the Nemmara area. The frequent raids in the Attapadi area have resulted in curbing ganja cultivation. Afforestat ion The government has planted 51 lakh saplings as part of the move to green Kerala as an answer to global warming. The Forest Department will co-ordinate with the local panchayats, public and other departments to plant saplings. Forest land In the last two years, the government has taken back 436 acres from the encroachers who had occupied forest lands. Malampuzha zoo The zoo had been temporarily closed down due to the objections raised by the Zoo Authority of India. The directives of the Zoo Authority of India had been enforced. After official inspection the zoo would be reopened. State -level forest sports met The state-level Forest Sports Meet will be held at the Railway grounds from October 18 to 20. The logo for the sports meet was released by the Minister on the occasion. One thousand forest personnel will take part in 54 items at the meet.