Gadwal plans massive afforestation in 17,555 acres

Gadwal: The district administration of Gadwal is developing an action plan to grow social forestry in an extent of 17,555 acres in the district. Taking part in a review meeting over the development initiatives to be taken on increasing green cover in the district, District Collector Sruthi Ojha directed the Forest and the Revenue officials to prepare an action plan to develop social forestry in the district.

The District Collector expressed her concern over Gadwal district having only 1 per cent forest cover which is far behind the normal requirement of 33 per cent as per the environmental norms. During the meeting, the Revenue department officials informed the Collector that there was an availability of barren government land to an extent of 17,555 acres in areas adjacent to forest areas of Penchukalapadu and Musalampally villages in the district.

"We are targeting to improve the green cover in the district. At present, Gadwal is having lowest forest cover in Telangana. We want to change this and have identified large extent of barren government lands in nine villages surrounding the Penchukalapadu and Musalampally forest regions. We have directed the district officials concerned to prepare an action plan to develop social forestry in these areas and directed them to take immediate measures to improve green cover in Gadwal district," said the Collector.

The District Collector also directed the Forest officials and the police to slap cases on those who cut trees or kill the wild animals in the forest. She directed the forest officials to register cases against wood thieves as per Telangana Forest Act and said under Section 9 of 1972 Forest Protection Rules and Regulations, the forest officials can book cases and take the violators to book.