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Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Vana Mahotsavam held at Nehru Zoo Park
Hyderabad: Nehru Zoological Park launched a mega plantation programme under the Vana Mahotsavam programme on Sunday. As part of this, Dr C Suvarna, PCCF (HoFF), Telangana and Elusing Meru, PCCF (Wildlife), Telangana along with other Forest Officials and Director of Zoo Parks, Telangana visited Nehru Zoological Park and planted the tree saplings of Ficus and other fruit bearing and shade giving tree saplings near the reptile house area. During the programme, Dr Suvarna flagged off and released a pair of 'Serval Cats' into the enclosure for the public display at small cats enclosure. These cats are of about 2 years old. This new exotic species is endemic to the African continent and lives up to 16 years in captivity. Later, the PCCF also inaugurated the renovated Fossil Park Garden, a variety of plant species planted in the model of Telangana map. 'With a motto to increase the green cover in the state, everyone has to plant a tree in the name of mother – Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' said Dr Suvarna. Dr Sunil S Hiremath, Director Zoo Parks, Telangana and Field Director (FAC), Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana, M J Akbar, Former Director - NZP, Dr MA Hakeem, Deputy Director (Vet), M Barnoba, Deputy Curator, Dr P Srinivas, Asst. Director (Vet), A Nagamani, ACF, Admin and other officers also participated in the programme.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC panel summons govt officials over ‘ESZ violation' in Satkosia reserve
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has summoned the state chief secretary, Manoj Ahuja, tourism secretary, Balwant Singh, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force, Suresh Pant, and PCCF (wildlife), Prem Kumar Jha, to attend in person before it on July 17. They are required to explain the alleged violation of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in Satkosia Tiger Reserve as per the tourism department's master plan. The CEC has also mentioned in its July 3 letter to the chief secretary that they will have to explain the plan on constructing a two-lane national highway over Chilika Lake and a bridge over the Mahanadi river near Baliput in the eco-sensitive Satkosia. Based on the CEC letter, forest department communicated to the departments concerned on Sunday to appear before the SC panel as revealed by the govt letter dated July 5. The CEC letter to the chief secretary stated, "With reference to proceedings of the meeting on the master plan on tourism, land bank and HR issues held on May 30, relating to tourism projects, forest clearances and eco-sensitive zones and the requirement of approval of the tourism department in the finalisation of ESZ, you are requested to attend the meeting on July 17 in the CEC office, New Delhi." Earlier, CEC had sought a response from the chief secretary regarding alleged eco-sensitive zone violations, referring to the draft proposal of Satkosia's wildlife wing. Satkosia Abhayaranya and Praja Surkshya Samiti (SAPSS), which filed the petition in the apex court, stated that Satkosia is a Ramsar convention site and the forest department is attempting to modify the 2011 ESZ norm to allow tourism department to undertake massive projects in the core area. Towards the Baliput area, the ESZ has been reduced to zero to pave way for construction activities. "This will facilitate the mushrooming of hotels on the edge of Satkosia gorge, thus encouraging commercial hotels to make their interest prevail over conservation. This will also completely disturb the nesting of birds and the basking of crocodiles on sandbars in both Baliput and Badmul ends," wildlife conservationist Prasanna Behera said. "Outside the boundary of Satkosia, at least 1km of ESZ should be maintained where no construction and tourism activities can take place. If the ESZ is made zero, the biodiversity of Satkosia gorge, which is home to endangered gharials, will perish fast," he added.
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.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha's infrastructure plans in eco-zones to be reviewed by CEC
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government's plans for tourism and infrastructure projects in sensitive zones of critical protected areas (PAs) of the state have drawn the notice of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The panel has now called for a meeting and asked chief secretary Manoj Ahuja to discuss crucial tourism and bridge infrastructure projects as well as the matter pertaining to eco sensitive zone (ESZ) finalisation. The meeting is scheduled on July 17 at New Delhi. Sources said issues of governance and execution model for tourism infrastructure which have a bearing on sanctuaries, national parks, tiger reserve areas and Ramsar sites will be taken up by the CEC. Similarly, tourism projects requiring forest and ESZ clearances and stake of the Tourism department in ESZ finalisation will also be discussed. The SC-constituted panel has also asked the principal chief conservator of forests (general), PCCF (wildlife) and Secretary, Tourism department to be take part in the meeting which will specifically discuss two critical infrastructure projects in the state. One of the contentious projects is the proposed construction of a two-lane national highway over Chilika lagoon by the National Highways Authority of India. The 7.740 km project, estimated at a cost of around Rs 526.08 crore, had prompted the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to seek a cost-benefit analysis from the state government.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chhattisgarh forest dept withdraws community forest rights order after backlash
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh forest department has withdrawn its directive barring other government departments, NGOs, and private entities from undertaking any work related to Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), following growing protests across tribal regions of the state. According to the May 15 order, the forest department would oversee the land granted to forest dwellers under FRA provisions, until the central government provided model management plans (Representative photo) 'Forest minister Kedar Kashyap had ordered the advisory's withdrawal. The directive, issued on May 15, had stirred intense opposition from tribal communities and civil society groups, who claimed it undermined their legal rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA),' an official statement issued by the department on Thursday said. The Forest Rights Act empowers gram sabhas with the authority to conserve and manage community forest resources and to block any activity that could harm wildlife, biodiversity, or the forest ecosystem. According to the May 15 order, the forest department would oversee the land granted to forest dwellers under FRA provisions, until the central government provided model management plans. Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force V Sreenivasa Rao, who had signed the directive, cited a 2020 central communication to justify naming the forest department as the nodal agency for CFRR implementation. Protests erupted in Chhattisgarh districts including Nagri, Ambikapur, Kanker, Gaurela, Narayanpur, Gariaband, Pithora, Balod, and Bastar. Demonstrators submitted memorandums, calling the order unconstitutional and contrary to the FRA's spirit. The department has clarified that the May order was an interim measure to ensure only approved CFRR management plans were implemented until formal models were released. It said that referring to the forest department as the 'nodal agency' was a typographical error, which had been corrected through a corrigendum on June 23. However, due to the confusion and unrest that followed, both the original letter and the corrigendum have now been formally withdrawn. The forest department's statement also states that the 'state has distributed 4,78,641 individual titles and 4,349 community forest resource rights titles, covering over 20 lakh hectares—benefiting millions of forest-dwellers.' The department further explained that, in the absence of central guidelines and a model CFRR plan, the May advisory aimed only to harmonise community management plans with the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023. To address the gaps, it has now requested the ministry of tribal affairs and the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to urgently release detailed CFRR model plans, implementation guidelines, and training modules for all stakeholders.
