Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao anxious over forests vanishing

Hyderabad: Expressing anguish over depleting forests in Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asked the forest staff to check illegal felling of trees and encroachment of forest lands.

“I always get to hear about shortage of staff, facilities etc. No doubt there are shortcomings. But, these are old excuses,” he said interacting with forest officials at Dulapally in Ranga Reddy district.

If needed, the government would provide further teeth to forest Act or bring in a new Act,The CM asked the forest officials to increase the forest cover from 25 per cent to 33 per cent. he added saying, ““I am here to motivate you but not scold you.”