Protect forest wealth, K Chandrasekhar Rao orders collectors

“Be good to good people, but you should be like Yama to the bad. Take stringent action against those illegally felling trees and robbing the forest wealth which has badly affected the climatic conditions in the state,” he reportedly said.

Stating that the government had earmarked Rs 500 crore for the prestigious Harita Haram scheme to improve greenery, increase rainfall and protect the environment, the CM said all steps should be taken to fulfil the objective of planting 230 crore saplings in three years.

“Plant 120 crore saplings in villages and towns, 100 crore saplings in forest belts and 10 crore under HMDA limits. Respective district collectors should take special care for the saplings to grow,” he said.

Mr Rao told a high level meeting of senior officials and collectors that Telangana had rich flora and fauna in Warangal, Khammam, Adilabad, Medak, Karimnagar and other pla-ces, but forests were have been depleted and there had also been largescale encroachments.

He asked collectors to be merciless in protecting the forests from smugglers and encroachers. Promising to ensure tap water for every house, he said the government would ensure 12,000 MW of power in three years. He also asked collectors to ensure proper implementation of welfare schemes like Kalyana Laxmi, Shadi Mubarak etc.