Hyderabad: Chief Secretary of Telangana state Somesh Kumar hoped that the urban forest parks developed by the government would be like oxygen factories in the days to come.
He along with forest officials visited the Oxygen urban forest park at Kandlakoya near Medchal today. He spent nearly three hours in the park and enquired in detail with the officials about forest rejuvenation, soil protection, rootstock development, types of plants suited for soils in Telangana, seedlings to be raised in urban parks, benefits to the environment and the facilities provided to the visitors in urban forest parks.
Chief Secretary expressed happiness about the development of the oxygen park which he termed as natural heaven. He said that while a large chunk of forest land is available in and around Hyderabad, 59 urban forest parks are being developed within 5kms radius of the Outer Ring Road of which 32 parks are completed. Overall state 95 such urban parks to be developed soon.
The Chief Minister during the conference with district collectors and senior officials on June 16 of this month would discuss among other things about Telangana ku-harithahaaram, development of parks in rural and urban areas, he added. The Yadadri Model of Miyawaki plantation would be taken up in every area in one-acre land and mini forest would be developed. He called upon the people to associate themselves in Haritha Telangana program as the increased green cover would benefit mankind
immensely. Forest rejuvenation steps would be initiated on a saturation basis. Encroachment of forest lands will be prevented by laying fencing and priority will be given to rootstock development.
Labour Minister Mallareddy who was with the Chief Secretary for a short time lauded the harithahaaram program in Medchal district. Later the Chief Secretary planted saplings in the park and released silver pheasant birds into the ivory. PCCF Shoba explained about the importance of urban parks.
Principal Secretary EFST Rajat Kumar, Medchal Collector V Venkateswarlu, Additional PCCF Lokesh Jaiswal, RM Dobriyal, and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
SOURCE: NSS
