Trench fencing works gain pace

Tirupati: As part of measures to curb red sanders smuggling in Seshachalam forests, the Andhra Pradesh forest department the Tirupati wildlife division sleuths have embarked upon a mission to creatre trench fencing covering a vast forest area to the extent of 135.75 km under the Tirupati Wildlife management division.

Speaking to The Hans India on the trench fencing works underway at various forest ranges falling under the Tirupati Wildlife management division, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) G Sreenivasulu said that trench fencing works to a stretch of 44 km were already completed.

Tenders were called for executing trench fencing to another 45 km stretch under Balapalle, Mamandur and other ranges. The measurements of the trench fencing are 3 metre width at the top, 2 metre width at the bottom and it will be of a depth of 3 metres, according to DFO Sreenivasulu. The forest department is spending Rs 29.25 per cubic metre for the trench fencing.

Sreenivasulu stated that the State government had already sanctioned a sum of Rs 4 crore for the trench fencing works. The forest official observed that the trench fencing measure not only helps preserve the precious red sanders trees endemic to the region but also helps derive multiple benefits. He exuded confidence that with the trench fencing in place across the forest division, the red sanders smuggling activities would come down further owing to the difficulties involved in crossing over to the forest area.

The smugglers would no longer be able to drive up to the red sanders dumping points inside the forests. “This would help in curbing the red sanders smuggling to a larger extent,” Sreenivasulu said. The trench fencing would also help in preventing elephants from entering human habitations. “There are around 28 wild elephants moving around inside the forests under the Tirupati Wildlife management division.

But with trench fencing in place, the risk of these wild tuskers as well as other wild animals invading into human habitations can be prevented,” the forest official said. It would provide a security cover to the villagers, farmlands and farmers residing along the fringe villages close to the Seshachalam forests. Besides this, the trench fencing would also help store water which would ultimately help recharge the groundwater in the surrounding regions.

By:Sandeep Raghavan