Govt will strive to protect forest wealth: Minister Balineni

Tirupati: The Minister of Power, Environment and Forests Balineni Srinivas Reddy said that the government will act tough in protecting the forest wealth and curbing red sanders smuggling.

Speaking at the 65th wildlife week celebrations at SV Zoological Park in Tirupati on Friday, the Minister said that protecting and preserving forests is high on agenda for the government and will not spare anyone involving in red sanders smuggling.

As per national forest act 33 percent of forest land has to be maintained in the state, but it has only 23 percent. The government has taken a target of distribution and planting of 25,000 crores saplings. As the department was facing the problem of non-availability of vehicles, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has sanctioned Rs.40 crores to buy vehicles.

Minister added that they have paid pending salaries to outsourcing employees and giving the weapons to trained forest rangers and staff. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests N Prateep Kumar cautioned that human existence will be in danger without forests cover.

MLC Y Sreenivasulu Reddy stated that everyone should take the responsibility of protecting forests. He asked the officials to dig ponds in forests to store water. Earlier, Minister Sreenivas Reddy planted the Neem sapling which is the State official tree and went through the wildlife photo exhibition.

He released posters on "A window to bio-diversity", "Progress of Biosphere Zoological Park – 2018-19" etc., Prizes were distributed to the staff for meritorious services and students who stood as winners in various competitions.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Nalini Mohan, Zoo park Curator M Babitha, Chief Conservator of Forests Saravanan, DFOs Sunil Kumar Reddy, Nagarjuna Reddy, Narendra, Sreenivasulu and others took part in the programme.