HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao led the state in marking National Forest Martyrs Day, which is observed on September 11. The day is observed every year to pay homage to about 360 people from the Bishnoi community who laid down their lives to protect the Khejri trees in the Kejrali village of Rajasthan in 1730.
In the last 40 years, 22 forest officers of various cadres have lost their lives while on duty.
Chief Minister paid tribute to the forest officials and staff who lost their lives while discharging their duties. “In order to keep their aspirations alive, we all should accomplish ‘Jungle Bachao-Jungle Badhao’ with utmost dedication,” he said. . Everyone should take a pledge in this direction.”
He said the state government’s flagship programme of Haritha Haram was yielding substantial results in restoring forests.
The Nehru Zoological Park also observed the Forest Martyrs’ Day to pay homage to officers who had laid down their lives while on duty to protect the forests.
Forest minister A. Indrakaran Reddy said the forest department had booked 79,735 offence reports (OR) for timber worth Rs 43.56 crore last year.
