Centre Grants ₹15 Cr for Urban Forests

Vijayawada:Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan informed that the union government has approved ₹15.4 crore as the first tranche for developing 11 new Nagara Vanams in municipalities and municipal corporations of Andhra Pradesh.

According to a statement the Deputy Chief Minister’s office released to media on Saturday, the Nagara Vanams will come up at Gargayapuram in Kurnool, Kadapa, Nellimarla, Chittoor Dairy and Kaligiri Mountain in Chittoor, Kailasagiri in Srikalahasti, Prakashrao Palem in Tadepalligudem, Sri Krishnadevaraya Fort Eco Park in Penukonda, Batrepalli Waterfalls Eco Park in Kadiri, Kasi Bugga in Palasa, and the Eastern Ghat Bio-Diversity Centre in Visakhapatnam.

Following the centre’s sanction, Pawan Kalyan held discussions with forest department officials on development of the Nagara Vanams in the state. He told officials that the government has an opportunity to develop greenery in the state with the funds sanctioned by the centre.

Later, the Deputy CM directed forest department officials to hold the Vana Mahotsavam, scheduled to be held on August 30, across the state and make it a grand success. He said Vana Mahotsavam should be held like a festival in all villages, towns, and cities. Government departments, along with educational institutions, universities, industries, paper mills and religious organisations, should actively participate in the event and plant saplings, he added.