Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday that 17,000 acres of forest land in West Godavari would be denotified to develop industries in that district.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has already been lobbying the Centre to denotify 84,267.88 acres of forest land, that is, 60 per cent of the forest blocks, for development of the capital region. In addition, the State Wildlife Board has recently sent a resolution to the National Wildlife Board asking to reduce the size of the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary, which would free up 34,464 acres for development.
Visiting the Venkateshwara temple at Dwaraka Tirumala, the Chief Minister complained that some farmers are not coming forward to give their lands. “It is the main hurdle to my plans to develop the State despite the financial crunch,” he said.
Speaking at the inaugural of Raja Vegesna Foundation’s hospital Venkateswara Institute of Relief and Rehabilitation for Disabled (VIRRD) at Timmapuram, he said the farmers of West Godavari have a strong bond with their farmland but that was stopping development of industry in the district.
Earlier, Mr Naidu performed pujas at Sri Venkateswara temple at Dwaraka Tirumala to mark his marriage anniversary.
