Hyderabad: Forest, Endowment and Housing Minister A Indrakaran Reddy today directed the officials concerned to take stern action against the culprits who involved in smuggling of forest wood and materials.
The minister inspected a check-post at Arli in Kuntala mandal of Nirmal district. Earlier, he made a visit to Saraswathi Goddess temple at Basara and offered special prayers. En route, he stopped at Arli checkpost and instructed the officials to have continuous vigil on the movement of the vehicles into forests and nearby areas.
The minister said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has directed to implement policy to protect the forest area and increase green cover. KCR also warned of stringent measures against those, who indulge in smuggling and illegal transportation of the forest wood and materials, he said. “Make regular inspections on the vehicles and take serious action for violation of norms”, he said. Illegal transportation should be checked and negligence by the forest staff will attract serious action, Indrakaran Reddy said.
Dig up trenching for protecting the forest lands and provide drinking waters to wild life by saucer pits and summer storage tanks, the minister said. Indrakaran also inspected assisted natural regeneration area near Narsapur.
Those present were Kawwal field director Vinod Kumar, DFO Prasad, FDO Gopal Rao and PD Venkateshwar. (NSS)
