Latest news with #JayashankarTelanganaAgriculturalUniversity
New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Vana Mahotsavam 2025 to mark ecological restoration at agricultural varsity
HYDERABAD: In a major step towards ecological revival, the Telangana government will launch its flagship Vana Mahotsavam 2025 at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU), Rajendranagar, on July 7. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will inaugurate the event by planting saplings, reaffirming the state's commitment to restoring green cover using indigenous species. The initiative kicks off a scientific restoration effort across 150 acres of PJTAU land long overrun by invasive weeds and exotic trees like eucalyptus and subabul. Once home to native species, the campus has been dominated by lantana, parthenium, prosopis juliflora (Sarkar Thumma), eucalyptus, and subabul, which disrupt local ecology and deplete groundwater. A joint survey by HMDA Urban Forestry and PJTAU in January 2025 identified 3,521 subabul and 869 eucalyptus trees across four plantation blocks, later marked for removal with Forest department approval. To ensure transparency, PJTAU held a public auction in May. As per a May 7 tender, 3,000 subabul and 521 eucalyptus trees were approved for felling. The highest bids: Rs 4,800/tonne for subabul (Madan Mohan, Sri Laxmi Wood Suppliers) and Rs 4,700/tonne for eucalyptus (Raghu Kumar, Sri Lorven Enterprises). ITC was awarded the extraction contract, and clearing began in mid-June.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vana Mahotsavam 2025 launched to plant 18 crore saplings in Telangana this year
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reaffirmed his government's strong commitment to women empowerment and environmental protection as he launched the Vana Mahotsavam 2025campaign at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) campus in Hyderabad on Monday (July 7, 2025). The ambitious green initiative aims to plant 18 crore saplings across the State this year, he said while echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to citizens to plant a sapling in the name of their mother. He urged women, especially mothers, to plant trees in their children's names as well. 'If we nurture trees like our own children, Telangana will become a complete Green Zone. Nature will protect us if we take care of it,' he said. 60 Assembly tickets to women Referring to his government's commitment towards women empowerment, he assured that the Congress party would allocate 60 Assembly tickets to women candidates in the next elections. His assurance comes in the wake of reports that the Women's Reservation Bill will be implemented in legislative bodies by the next election cycle providing 33% seats to them. Mr. Reddy termed his government as 'People's Government' and explained the series of initiatives the government has taken to uplift women in rural and urban areas. He noted that ₹21,000 crore loans have been provided to women self-help groups (SHGs) this year while the women also enjoy free bus travel cross Telangana. He recalled how the government supported women's groups to operate and own 1,000 RTC buses as part of an innovative public-private partnership. He also recalled exclusive marketing platforms for women entrepreneurs in Hyderabad's Hi-Tech City, enabling them to showcase products to multinational companies and empowering women by assigning them roles in managing solar plants and government schools. The Chief Minister also announced the expansion of women SHGs into urban areas and reiterated the State's goal to make one crore women millionaires under the 'Indiramma Rajyam' vision of inclusive growth. Earlier, he planted a sapling of Rudraksha at the University premises to launch the Vana Mahostsavam. He also visited the photo exhibition. Minister for Forests, Konda Surekha; Advisor to the government Vem Narender Reddy; MP Mallu Ravi; MLA Prakash Goud and Whip in the Council Patnam Mahender Reddy and PJTAU Vice Chancellor Aldas Janaiah were among present. Later, the Chief Minister left for New Delhi where he will meet Union Ministers seeking clearances and funds for various developmental projects in the State.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Telangana CM launches plantation drive, urges women to take care of saplings like children
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday launched 'Vana Mahotsavam', a massive plantation programme under which 18.03 crore saplings are to be planted across the state this monsoon. The Chief Minister inaugurated the programme at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University at Rajendranagar in Rangareddy district. Accompanied by Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) C. Suvarna, the Chief Minister planted the saplings at the Botanical Garden. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister called for planting at least two saplings in every house. He urged women to take care of the saplings like their own children. Voicing concern over global warming, he underlined the need for planting more trees to save the environment. 'If you protect trees, trees will protect you,' he said. CM Revanth Reddy emphasised the role women can play in environmental protection. He listed out the steps taken by his government for the welfare of women and also to encourage them to take entrepreneurship. Stating that the government is working for the empowerment of women, he said it was trying to give them self-respect through various initiatives. The Chief Minister also urged women to come forward to play an active role in politics. Stating that Assembly seats in the state will increase from 119 to 153, he said the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women would mean that they will have 51 seats. 'I will take the responsibility of giving 60 tickets to women,' he said. PCCF Suvarna said 18.03 crore saplings will be planted across the state during this monsoon as part of Vana Mahotsavam. This programme is aimed at enhancing the state's forest cover and fostering environmental sustainability. She said all departments, especially Forest, Municipal Administration, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) will participate in the tree plantation drive. She noted that HMDA adopted 150 acres of land on the campus for Agriculture University for plantation. This includes a Botanical Garden spread over 40 acres. Suvarna said that in place of Subabul and Eucalyptus trees, traditional forest species native to Telangana are being planted on the campus. The alleged tree cutting on the university campus triggered a row on Sunday, with a section of students alleging that the authorities felled the trees to plant new saplings. The University authorities, however, clarified that trees harmful to the environment are being removed as part of the ongoing drive to make space for new and valuable plantations. PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aldas Janaiah clarified removal of Subabul and Eucalyptus trees on 150 acres as part of the greenery development initiative on the campus was taken up by the university through a formal auction process.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
CM to inaugurate Vana Mahotsavam in PJTAU today
Hyderabad: ChiefMinister A Revanth Reddy will inaugurate Vanamahotsavam on Monday at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU). The program is being organized by the Forest Department, with students from the university, forest lovers, volunteers, and local residents expected to participate in large numbers. Addressing the media on Sunday, PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Aldas Janaiah, said that the university has been home to eucalyptus and subabul varieties of trees for decades. In their place, it has been decided to plant rare varieties of trees and traditional wild fruit trees on the campus. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has committed to adopting measures to enhance greenery by planting these trees, he added. He said the state government has chosen to launch Vanamahotsavam within the university. As part of this initiative, rare varieties of trees such as Jitregi, Bandaru, Somi, Karaka, Tani, Yegisa, Battakadima, Buddarimi, and Punigu, which are rarely found in Telangana's forest areas, will be planted during the program. He emphasized that decades ago, environmentally harmful trees like subabul and eucalyptus were planted. The auction process for tree removal has been ongoing for the past month and is managed by ITC. The Vice Chancellor urged people not to believe rumors being spread by some individuals about Vanamahotsavam and the false narratives circulating on social media. He reiterated that such claims are untrue and appealed to the public, especially the youth and tree lovers, not to be carried away by misinformation. He noted that the botanical garden, which had been a source of pride, had suffered neglect over the past 15 years. It had to be closed because trees like subabul and eucalyptus, which are detrimental to the environment, occupied the space. Following the removal of these trees, the HMDA has initiated the planting of saplings of fruit and other beneficial trees. This is part of their broader strategy to clear eucalyptus and subabul trees, ensuring a healthier ecological environment, he noted.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Hyderabad agriculture university issues clarification after tree cutting allegations
Tree felling on the campus of the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University here ahead of the launch of the plantation programme by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy sparked a row, but the university authorities clarified that trees harmful to the environment are being removed as part of the ongoing drive to make space for new and valuable plantations. A section of students alleged that earthmovers were deployed on Saturday night to fell trees on campus in preparation for Vana Mahotsavam, a plantation programme scheduled by launched by the Chief Minister on Monday. Videos of students questioning police officials and pointing to the presence of heavy machinery were shared on social media. The students questioned the removal of existing trees to plant new ones. The university authorities, however, termed the reports on social media as "false" and "misleading". PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aldas Janaiah clarified removal of subabul and eucalyptus trees in 150 acres as part of the greenery development initiative on the campus was taken up by the university through a formal auction process, awarded to ITC. He said in a statement that these tree species have been found to harm the environment by depleting groundwater and damaging soil health. He clarified that the removal of these trees is part of a programme that has been ongoing for the past month, and appealed to people and environmentalists not to believe the false news on social media. In May, the university had approved the auctioning of 521 eucalyptus and 3,000 subabul trees present on four different blocks on the campus. As part of the university's ongoing greenery development efforts, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has initiated a project to remove environmentally harmful tree species such as subabul and eucalyptus from the university campus. These trees, planted decades ago, were found to be contributing to groundwater depletion and land degradation. The Vice-Chancellor stated that in the place of these trees, rare and traditional forest species native to Telangana will be introduced on a large scale. He clarified that the initiative is based on ecological reasoning and long-term sustainability goals. He noted that the university's Botanical Garden, once a key feature of the campus, had been in decline for over 15 years due to the uncontrolled growth of subabul and eucalyptus. He also mentioned that the campus is filled with invasive weeds like lantana, parthenium, prosophis juliflora (Sarkar thumma), etc, causing severe environmental damage to the campus. In the coming days, eucalyptus and subabul trees on 150 acres will be removed to make space for planting valuable varieties as part of the Vana Mahotsavam. Around 30 native timber, wild fruit and wild flower bearing tree species, along with a wide variety of Bamboo varieties, are being planted to revive and rejuvenate the Botanical Garden. The Vana Mahotsavam, organised by the Forest Department, will be attended by students, volunteers, forest enthusiasts, and the local community, the Vice-Chancellor added.
