Govt eyeing forest area in Kotturu Tadepalli stretch

- Sent a letter to Union government seeking permission for diversification of forest lands in Adavi Nekkalam
- Earlier, a letter sent to Union government for diversification of 15,000 acres land in Kondapalli

Vijayawada: The government has begun efforts to get 15,000 acres belonging to forest department between the stretch of Kotturu Tadepalli in Vijayawada rural mandal and Adavi Nekkalam village in Agiripalli mandal.

This forest stretch connects nearly 10 villages and habitations located about 15-20 km from Vijayawada city. Dozens of hills and small hillocks are located in the forest area. Mining activity is also continuing in some parts of the stretch.

These hillocks supply raw material for the construction activity in the city.

After taking 33,000 acres land in Guntur district from farmers and other people for the construction of capital, the state government is eyeing forest department lands in Krishna district. Earlier, the state government had made unsuccessful attempt to get about 15,000 acres forest land belonging to forest department in Kondapalli reserve forest.

The Union government had bluntly turned down the request of the state government to denotify the forest land. Since then, the state government had changed the policy and asking the Central government to give the forest land for diversification of activities.

It is not known how the Central government would react to the latest request sent by the state government to give permission for diversification of forest land in Adavi Nekkalam and Kothuru Tadepalli.

The state government has restarted its efforts to get at least 15,000 acres land in Kondapalli reserve forest area, which is spread over 25,000 acres in Ibrahimpatnam mandal, G Konduru, Kanchikacharla and A Konduru mandals.

According to reliable sources, the state government has recently sent a letter to the Union government seeking approval for diversification of forest lands in Adavinekkalam and Kotturu Tadepalli villages. Jakkampudi, Ambapuram, Nynavaram, Patapadu and some other small habitations located between Kothuru Tadepalli and Adavi Nekkalam villages.

If the Central government gives its nod for diversification of forest land, the green cover will come down from seven per cent to four to five in the district. It is estimated that forest cover is only seven per cent in the district.

Thick and dense forests are located in Kondapalli, G Konduru, Mylavaram and some other pockets.

Keeping in view of the need for growing vegetation in the district, the forest department has been trying to grow plants in these forest areas for some years. Recently, thousands of saplings were planted as part of the Vanamahotsavam programme in the forest areas.

A senior officer in the forest department said ntrees, mango orchards, rosewood, terminaia and other trees are grown abundantly in Kothuru Tadepalli and Adavi Nekkalam. If the Union government gives its nod for diversification of lands, several big trees will vanish in Vijayawada rural mandal and Agiripalli mandal leading to further decline of green cover in the district.

As per the Union government and international norms, every country or state must have 33 per cent green cover. But due to rapid urbanisation, green cover is gradually declining in Krishna district. Kondapalli forest area is also losing greenery due to increasing population in nearly 15 villages located near the forests.

MD AMEEN