TS: CM directs collectors to prepare plan for revival of forests

Telangana: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has asked the Collectors to prepare a plan for revival of the forests in the forestlands all over the State and commence the action plan. If the social forestry helps to reduce temperatures in the residential areas, forest development would bring in a change in the atmosphere and help bring in more rains and enables biodiversity, the CM said.

The CM has personally demonstrated to the Collectors here on Wednesday. Forest revival programme is being implemented at Singayapalli, Nentur, Komati Banda under the Gajwel Assembly Constituency jurisdiction. With a view to reviving forest in the forestlands, a comprehensive plan was prepared and implemented.

The revival works began three years ago are showing results now. The entire area is with full of greenery and there is an increase in the rainfall. With as many as 27 varieties of fruit-bearing trees being grown in the forest area, they have become like monkey food courts.

He said the Collectors should take inspiration from the revival of forest programme being implemented around Gajwel and it should be implemented all over the State for the revival of the forests. He said there are 66.48 Lakh Hectares of forestland available in the State and it is about 23.4 per cent of the total land in the State. But in the same ratio, forestlands were not there.

On the forest revival programme implemented in the Gajwel forestlands, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ms R Shobha, Additional PCCF RM Dobrial explained to the Collectors. They said that using the rootstock in the forests, trees were grown in a natural way. Deep trenches were dug around the forest area for better protection.

This would also prevent animals from going out of the forest area and coming inside the forests. The water level in the trenches gives ample moisture to the plants. Nickernuts (Gacchakayi) plants were also planted near the trenches for more protection.

Since 27 varieties of fruit-bearing trees planted in the forest areas, monkeys are coming back from the villages and towns to the forest. The senior forest officials told Collectors that revival of the forest decreased the temperatures, increase the rainfall and reduced the pollution levels. It also enables biodiversity.

They said funds from CAMPA programme are available and they will be utilised for the afforestation and through the forest department measures would be taken up for the growth of trees. The CM said that Ministers, MLAs and Collectors should take the responsibility of reviving the forests protecting them.

The CM discussed the implementation of the new Panchayat Raj Act, new Municipalities Act and the formation of the new Revenue Act. He said that the government’s aim is to have clean and green villages and towns, accordingly, measures should be taken during the 60-day Action Plan in the State. The CM said the government is preparing a new Revenue Act, which will be corruption free, transparent and would create no problems for the people or farmers.

Authored by Mohammed Hussain

mohammedhussain.reporter@gmail.com