Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP J Santosh Kumar announced that he will be adopting thousand acres of Kodimiala forest land in Kondagutta area on Thursday.
The announcement was made in view and ahead of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) birthday which is on February 17 as a part of the CM’s Green India challenge.
Kondagattu in Jagityala district is known is synonymous with Lord Hanuman. CM KCR has announced to rebuild the famous Kondagattu Temple that is placed in the midst of dense forests and mountains.
Kumar said that the CM KCR aspires for a Telangana that radiates green and spiritual auras along with development in all fields, whether it is the construction of Kaleswaram, the reconstruction of Yadadri, or the development of the Anjanna Temple, the god of Koti Mokkula, that is proof of Kesiar’s vision.
A total of 1,094 acres of land has been adopted.
In the first installment, the MP announced that this above thousand acres of forest land will be greened with a cost of one crore rupees. The MP said that the remaining works will be completed in installments.
The MP also said that he has a strong connection with Kondagattu from his childhood, as he visited that place several times with CM KCR.
“It is thought that the pooja in the Kondagattu temple, which dates back before five hundred years, was performed using the fragrant flora and sandalwood trees found in this area. Again, for that reason, a lot of medicinal and aromatic plants will be planted in this woodland region,” Kumar added.
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Forest Resource Management Center (FRMC) at Narwal and launched the National Transit Pass System today.
Forest Resource Management Center in Jammu
The Lt Governor said, the new state-of-the-art facility and the technological advancements will go a long way in ensuring required protection and management of our forests.
The FRMC has been planned to scale up the use of modern technology such as GIS, Remote Sensing and digital tools like mobile application in protection and management of forests. The FRMC will also play a key role in digitalization of forest boundary as well as for management of forests through geo reference based information and mapping.
The Lt Governor advised the department to maximise the use of technology in forest protection and climate change mitigation by protecting the natural resources, which will also support meeting of Sustainable Development Goals.
J&K UT is the third UT/State to implement the National Transit Pass System in the country. It replaces manual paper-based transit system by online transit system, promotes agro-forestry activities that will in turn help in increasing farmer’s income, the Lt Governor noted.
Forest management and protection is vital to achieve climate stability and sustainable development goals. Reducing deforestation, tackling the loss of forest biodiversity and preservation of our natural heritage is critical for inclusive development, observed the Lt Governor.
“Nature unites us. I want every citizen to become Green Warrior and take action on climate change. We should have 10-point vision document which will act as an MoU of commitment with the society to protect the nature in the neighborhood,” said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the efforts of the forest department in safeguarding the ecological wealth and making technological interventions an important factor in forest management.
In Amrit Kaal our aim is to integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into development planning and work in a holistic manner for clean air, fresh water, biodiversity conservation and mitigation of human-wild animal conflict, the Lt Governor said.
Greater use of technology will help the field staff to make effective decisions for protection and management of forests and augment the efforts of the frontline forest field staff in securing this valuable resource, he said.
Today, Geo-tagging has revolutionized the management of different types of forest assets. GIS technology and Mapping have emerged as powerful instruments in conservation efforts. With GIS mapping and ground-based digitization, we can effectively tackle the challenge of encroachment, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor appreciated the Forest Department for digitization of all demarcated forests at beat, block, range and division levels. He congratulated PCCF/HoFF Dr Mohit Gera and his team for restoring the original glory of the Char Chinar in the iconic Dal Lake and further stressed upon taking up new initiatives dedicated to environment protection.
Citing the example from Ecuador which became the first country to grant “legal rights of the nature” in its Constitution, the Lt Governor advised that the sustainable development must recognize earth as a living entity. He also emphasised to expedite FRA cases especially pertaining to Individual Forest Rights and ensure that genuine claims are processed and decided expeditiously.
Appreciating the efforts of the department on afforestation through Green J&K Drive, the Lt Governor advised the department that such afforestation should lead to creation of livelihood.
He also directed the department to substantially increase the number of Women Self Help Groups and work towards women empowerment. The department should also take new initiatives under Jan Bhagidari and create volunteers to spread the awareness on climate change.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor paid tributes to the Martyrs of the Forest Department.
Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment enumerated various programmes and schemes dedicated to promoting green cover in J&K.
Dr Mohit Gera, PCCF &HoFF said that Forest Department is actively using Remote Sensing and GIS for forest protection and management activities and with the inauguration of the FRMC, the capability of Forest Department in use of technology will be enhanced considerably.
R Raghu Prasad, Inspector General of Forests, GoI, said that the roll-out of National Transit Pass System will largely benefit the farmers of J&K.
Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; HoDs and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
Telangana Forest Dept wins first prize at Numaish.
Hyderabad: Telangana Forest Department won the first prize for project implementation and exhibition section at the Hyderabad Industrial Exhibition (Numaish). Home Minister Mahmood Ali presented the first prize to the forest officials at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Numaish exhibition.
They were awarded the first prize for innovative schemes implemented by the forest department through Haritha Haram in Telangana for the past eight years and their presentation at the stall.
Display of the department’s scheme implementation and decoration of the stalls to reflect the same was done and a mini zoo was also a part of the stall. The stall decorated with forest and wild animals theme was an attraction for the exhibition visitors.
Chief Conservation Officer of Forests R.M. Dobriyal and Officer on Special Duty Priyanka Varghese felicitated the prize-winning officers and staff who managed the stall.
Telangana Minister for Forests and Environment Indrakaran Reddy
Hyderabad: The Telangana minister for environment, forests, science and technology A Indrakaran Reddy launched a newly designed zoo website and a mobile application for the Hyderabad Zoo Park designed specially for online tickets booking.
Reddy stated that the mobile app was made by the Telangana government in collaboration with Centre for Good Governance who designed the website.
The website provides complete information of the Zoo along with online ticket booking system, animal adoption scheme details and payment mode. Reddy also said that with the launch of this website and Mobile App visitors need not have to stand in the long ques at the booking counters.
This Mobile app is used friendly one can directly book the Entry, Battery Operated Vehicle, Safari Park tickets in advance from any corner of the World. He requested to one and all to avail this facility and make a grand success.
SRINAGAR: Deputy commissioner Ramban has advised people not to indulge in hunting in forest areas of the district.
In a tweet, DC Ramban, as reported by news agency KNO reported that hunting in forest areas is prohibited under Wildlife Act.
“People in Ramban District are hereby informed not to indulge in hunting in forest areas as the same is prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” he tweeted.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Forest Department took up a program to translocate wild herbivores from zoos and parks where there is excess population of herbivores to tiger bearing areas and other natural habitat for improving the prey base.
Recently the Department has taken up translocation of the following animals from Kakatiya Zoo Park to Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary and from Nehru Zoo Park (NZP) to Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
The department released 39 spotted dear, 13 sambar deer, and six peafowls in Eturnagaram sanctuary and Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
The department in the next two months i.e., by end of March proposed to translocate over 400 spotted Deer from Nehru Zoological Park and Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National park to all the tiger bearing areas, officials informed.
Telangana State has three Zoological Parks at Hyderabad, Hanumakonda and Mahboobnagar and three Deer Parks at Shamirpet, Kinnerasani and LMD Karimnagar where the wild herbivore population is increasing at a fast rate and managing the population is becoming difficult.
At the same time there are areas like Amrabad and Kawal Tiger Reserves, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary where movement of Tiger, Panther and other wild predators is regularly noticed.
These areas have a comparatively low prey base and need strengthening.
Keeping in view the above situation, the Telangana Forest Department has taken up on a big scale, the capture and translocation of wild herbivores like Spotted Deer, Sambar, Neelgai, Black Buck etc. from Zoos and Parks for release in the Tiger bearing areas, officials stated.
Forest officials informed that due care is taken while capturing and translocating wild herbivores following the protocol laid down for translocation like – all herbivores identified for translocation are checked for communicable diseases and worms in stomach. The infected animals are administered.
Vaccines and de-worming medicines are administered a week before translocation. Further, the capture is done through the kraal method where there is no physical contact with the animal while capturing and transferring them to transport crates. Also, the transportation is taken up during the night hours in cool conditions. The vehicle carrying herbivores travels nonstop to the destination.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government allocated Rs.1,471 crore for the Forest Department and state’s flagship program Haritha Haram in the budget for 2023-24.
Telangana finance minister T Harish Rao during his budget presentation speech in the state Legislative Assembly said that chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao firmly considers that it is the responsibility of every human being to protect the environment. “He introduced the ‘Telanganaku Haritha Haram’ on a large scale. It is no exaggeration to say that such a programme for planting trees and protecting them has not been taken up by any other government. The people of Telangana stood in full support of the chief minister’s commitment,” said Harish Rao.
The minister elaborated that in the new municipal and Panchayat acts, it is mandated that municipalities and Panchayats should allocate 10 percent of their annual budget to “green budget” and develop greenery. With the involvement of local bodies, there is abundant greenery in every village of Telangana, Harish Rao added.
He also explained that as per the India Forest Report 2021, prepared by the Forest Survey of India, Telangana’s green cover has increased by 7.70 per cent. “This is equivalent to 5.13 lakh acres. Haritha Haram has received recognition at the international level. The Food and Agriculture Organization, a constituent of United Nations Organization has described Hyderabad as ‘Tree City of the World’ twice. Hyderabad is the only city in the entire country to receive this recognition,” added the finance minister.
“The Sustainable Development Report brought out by NITI Aayog has placed Telangana in the first place on the basis of improvement in the greenery. The International Association of Horticultural Producers in South Korea has conferred ‘World Green City Award-2022’ to Hyderabad,” Harish Rao told the legislative assembly during his speech
The Telangana government by taking up afforestation has rejuvenated 13 lakh acres of forest land at a cost of Rs. 1500 crore, stated the finance minister. Fences have been erected with a length of 11,000 kilometers for the protection of forests. “As a result of the efforts taken by the state government to protect forests, there has been a significant increase in the number of wild animals. The number of tigers has increased to 26 and the number of leopards to 341. Many species of birds on the verge of extinction have regained their habitats,” Harish Rao said.
SRINAGAR: The authorities on Monday said it retrieved over 13 Kanals of forest land illegally occupied by former minister and now a DAP leader during the ongoing eviction drive in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that a revenue department team along with forest department retrieved 13 Kanal and 16 Marlas forest land from former minister Taj Mohi-Ud-din in Sedow area of Shopian.
He said that around 35 Kanals of land was there of which 13 Kanals and 16 Marlas were found illegally occupied the former minister.
Kashmir: Over 13 Kanals forest land illegally occupied by ex minister retrieved
Over 13 Kanals forest land illegally occupied by ex minister retrieved in Shopian
Shopian, Feb 06 : The authorities on Monday said it retrieved over 13 Kanals of forest land illegally occupied by former minister and now a DAP leader during the ongoing eviction drive in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a revenue department team along with forest department retrieved 13 Kanal and 16 Marlas forest land from former minister Taj Mohi-Ud-din in Sedow area of Shopian.
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He said that around 35 Kanals of land was there of which 13 Kanals and 16 Marlas were found illegally occupied the former minister—(KNO)
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Dumka: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday asked the people to protest if any activity was undertaken in forest areas without the permission of gram sabhas, alleging that Centre was trying to exploit the state’s natural resources.
Addressing a rally at midnight in Dumka to mark the 44th foundation day of his party JMM, Soren said the Centre brought changes in the Forest (Conservation) Act so that no prior approval is required from gram sabhas for any work whether it was cutting trees or digging in scheduled areas.
“It was aimed to suppress the voices of Adivasis-Moolvasis,” he alleged.
Soren said he has already written to the Centre, informing it that the changes in the law cannot be implemented in the state.
He said the BJP developed states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra but did nothing for the development of Jharkhand when it was in power.
Alleging that the BJP was hatching a conspiracy to bring down the “Adivasi-Moolvasi government”, Soren said, “They have taken a pledge to send me to jail. However, the truth can be harassed but can not be defeated.”
“We have framed a law based on 1932 khatian to provide employment to local youths, but the governor returned it terming it flawed. A similar law was enacted by the Karnataka government and the Centre had approved it,” he added.
Soren said he will continue to fight for the policy that proposes to use the 1932 land records to determine the domicile status of people.
