CM seeks Rs 100 crore for forest blocks

HYDERABAD: Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday urged the Centre to sanction Rs 100 crore for developing 188 forest blocks in HMDA limits under the Centre’s share of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (Campa) funds and restore the 70:30 ration under ad hoc Campa rules as approved by the Supreme Court. He also sought an early environmental clearance for stage II of the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project.


He made these pleas to Union minister for environment, forests and climate change Harsha Vardhan, who called on him at Pragathi Bhavan on Saturday. Thanking the Centre for giving environmental clearance to Kaleshwaram project, the CM invited Harshavardhan to visit the mega irrigation project costing Rs 80,000 crore and blocks being developed for improving green cover. KCR made a power-point presentation on implementation of ‘Telangana ku Haritha Haram’ programme, action to protect the forest, efforts on forest rejuvenation and development of social forestry.

KCR told the Union minister that no proper steps had been taken by previous governments to protect forests in the state. He said the primary objective of Haritha Haram was to increase green cover from the existing 24% to 33%.

KCR said that 40 crore seedlings were being planted every year and an action plan is being prepared to increase the number to 100 crore per year. In case of constructions and developmental projects where it involves loss of trees, immediate steps were being taken to plant an equal number of trees elsewhere and adequate funds provided for this.

He added that Telangana lifestyle and development of forests have an inter-relation with each other. Bathukamma, a state festival, is organised with flowers available in the forests and the festival is also a symbol of Telangana culture and tradition. Chief advisor to the government Rajiv Sharma, chief secretary SK Joshi and other officials were present.


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