KCR pays tributes on Forest Martyrs Day

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday paid rich tributes to those who had laid down their lives for the protection of forest and wildlife on the occasion of Forest Martyrs Day.

In his message, the Chief Minister said the State government had taken up the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram (THH) programme to rejuvenate the forests in Telangana in a big way. He asked the staff of forest and wildlife departments to emulate the spirit of the martyrs and dedicate themselves in protecting the forests in the State.

Earlier, Forest and Environment Minister Jogu Ramanna paid floral tributes at the martyr’s memorial, in which senior forest and wildlife officials took part. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P K Jha said 22 officials of various cadres from the State had laid their lives while protecting forests and wildlife since 1984.

Giving details of various initiatives taken up by the department in protecting the forest wealth, he said the department had formed 144 base camps with five local tribal and non-tribal watchers. Each camp is established in interior vulnerable forest areas, to prevent illicit felling of trees, smuggling and encroachment, he added.

In addition, the department had constituted 61 strike forces for patrolling in vulnerable areas and 55 forest check posts were established and maintained for curbing smuggling activity. The field level officials in the forest areas had been provided with communication charges, besides 2,142 vehicles to the officers and frontline staff for mobility in protecting the forests, he added.