The State government has dropped the idea of promoting red sanders cultivation in Telangana.
Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna said the idea had been dropped after experts opined that the condition was not suitable for high quality red sanders here. “Even if red sanders are cultivated, we are unlikely to get the required quality,” the Minister said.
The government had instead decided to focus on eucalyptus and bamboo plantations that would fetch revenue to growers as well as help in promoting eco-tourism projects.
The government had decided to promote eco-tourism zones in the backwaters of Nagarjunasagar at Peddamunagala in Nalgonda district and Jinnaram mandal in Mancherial district. Plans had accordingly been prepared involving ₹5 crore and ₹2 crore respectively for eco-tourism projects.
Mr. Ramanna said the department could not get the required attention in the erstwhile united State. The government had focussed on promotion of the activities by the Forest Development Corporation after which it had registered 200% growth in revenues. The yield of forest produce doubled from 44.92 tonne per hectare to 88 metric tonne per hectare while revenue had increased to ₹123 crore during the previous financial year.
