The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Forest cover intact, says official

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Sunday, Jan 04, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Forest cover intact, says official

Correspondent

Director-General of Forests inaugurates staff quarters at Forest Complex

VIZIANAGARAM: Director-General of Forests and Union Special Secretary P.R. Mohanty said on Saturday unlike in other nations the forest cover remained static at 23 per cent for the last 15 to 20 years in the country due to the steps taken by the Centre as well as by the State governments.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating forest quarters at the Forest Complex here, Mr. Mohanty said conservation was possible due to afforestation drive taken up with people’s participation and implementation of forest protection laws.

He said Rs.100crores was being earmarked for the last six years under integrated forest protection scheme to facilitate survey, demarcation, fire protection etc in States. He said outbreak of forest fires could be detected through satellite pictures and administrative machinery alerted.

On clearance to Jindal Aluminium, Mr. Mohanty said clearance would be given only after balancing through afforestation was assured. Living standards of people was being improved through VSS in Andhra Pradesh and joint forest managements in other States, he said.

Later, Mr. Mohanty inspected stalls put up by common enterprise groups at the Technical Dissemination Centre. C. Siva Sankara Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, U. Govinda Rao, Divisional Forest Officer and others were present.

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